#and i'd play out our... sessions... in my mind as i wrote this so...

[muiitoloko]

I just read Elliott fic when they have some domestic discipline and firstly I love it !!! Secondly, I read someone in the comment talking about Lionel and Turpin and it could fit them but what about a character no one would think about ??? Like Sinclair ! It’s so out of character and in the same time, I can imagine him and his partner having it as a fun sexual game because of course Sinclair is not a punisher, but he needs spices in his sexual life after his bitchy ex !

Title: Bedroom Boundaries

Summary: The exploration of new boundaries in the bedroom reveals Sinclair's hidden desires and deepens the connection between lovers.

Pairing: Sinclair Bryant × Fem! Reader

Warnings: Smut, BDSM.

Author's Notes: That's an interesting idea! I have to admit, it's a bit challenging to picture Sinclair as a dominant because he gives off such Golden Retriever vibes. But I went ahead and wrote about it, doing my best to keep the essence of Sinclair intact. Hope you enjoy it! 😄

Also read on Ao3

Sinclair was quite silent that night, you noticed as you brushed your hair in front of the mirror. You looked at him in the reflection, watching as he moved his fingers silently. He was reclining on the bed, his back against the headboard and the sheets pulled up to his lap. Sinclair always played with his fingers and was silent when he wanted to tell you something but wasn't sure if he should say it.

"What's on your mind, Clair?" you asked softly, putting down the brush and turning to face him. His brown eyes met yours, filled with a mixture of uncertainty and desire.

He hesitated for a moment, his blond hair slightly tousled, and his hooked nose casting a shadow over his intense gaze. "It's just... I've been thinking about something," he began, his baritone voice low and hesitant. "Something I want to try with you."

You walked over to the bed, sitting down beside him and taking his hand in yours. "You know you can tell me anything," you encouraged, your voice gentle.

Sinclair took a deep breath, his fingers tightening around yours. "I want to explore something new with you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Something a bit... dirtier than what we've done before."

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, a thrill of anticipation coursing through you. "Tell me more," you urged, your own voice filled with curiosity and excitement.

He looked at you hesitantly before finally starting to speak, his fingers nervously intertwining with yours. "I bought a magazine about, well, sex," Sinclair began, his voice shaky. "And in the magazine, there was an article about BDSM. It caught my attention, so I did some research about it—about dominance and submission."

Sinclair paused, his brown eyes searching yours for any sign of discomfort. Seeing none, he continued, his voice gaining a bit more confidence. "I really want to experiment with you. But I won't insist if you don't want to."

You stopped, absorbing his words, a little surprised. You couldn't imagine Sinclair as a dominant man. He was like a Golden Retriever—innocent and eager to please. Even now, when you lived together, he still asked permission to kiss you. The idea of him being dominant in bed was a surprise.

"What exactly do you want to do?" you asked, your curiosity piqued.

Sinclair's cheeks flushed slightly, but he didn't look away. "The spanking part caught my attention," he admitted. "I really want to have that with you. I want to spank your ass, and you'd be submissive to me. Of course, not for real. We'd have a safe word, and you could use it if it ever became too much."

Your heart raced at his words, a mix of excitement and apprehension swirling within you. "And... you'd make some rules in the bedroom?" you asked, trying to picture the scenario.

Sinclair nodded, his fingers tightening around yours. "Yes, I could create some rules for us to follow. Like, you would address me as 'Sir' during our sessions, and I'd expect you to obey my commands. If you misbehave, you'd get spanked as a punishment."

You bit your lip, the idea of submitting to Sinclair sending a thrill of anticipation through you. "And what would you do if I obeyed?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Sinclair's eyes darkened with desire, his voice dropping to a low, seductive rumble. "If you obey, you'd be rewarded. I could make you feel so good, give you pleasure like never before."

The thought of Sinclair taking control, of being both your punisher and your pleasure-giver, sent a shiver down your spine. "I'd like to try," you said softly, your own desire evident in your voice.

Sinclair's eyes lit up with a mixture of relief and excitement. "Thank you," he murmured, his fingers caressing your cheek. "We'll take it slow, and remember, you can always use the safe word if you need to stop."

You nodded, feeling a rush of anticipation. "What's the safe word?"

"Let's use 'red'," Sinclair suggested, his voice filled with affection. "If you say 'red', everything stops immediately."

"Okay, 'red' it is," you agreed, feeling a sense of security in the clear boundaries being set.

Sinclair smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he moved to sit up straighter on the bed. "Now, let's start with something simple," he said, his voice taking on a more authoritative tone. "Strip for me."

Your breath hitched at the command, but you felt a thrill of excitement as you began to remove your clothes, piece by piece, under his watchful gaze. Sinclair's eyes roamed over your body, his desire evident in the way he licked his lips.

Once you were fully naked, Sinclair's eyes darkened with lust. "Good girl," he murmured, his voice a low, seductive purr. "Now, come here and lay across my lap."

You moved to obey, your heart racing as you draped yourself over his lap, your bare skin pressed against his. Sinclair's hand rested on your ass, his touch gentle yet possessive.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and tenderness.

"Yes, Sir," you replied, the title feeling strangely natural as it left your lips.

Sinclair's hand came down in a firm, controlled spank, the sensation sending a jolt of pleasure through your body. He continued, each spank growing slightly harder, his other hand caressing your back in a soothing gesture.

But Sinclair wasn't used to this, you noticed, because every time you made a strange noise, he would stop and question if you were okay and if you wanted to stop. This amused you; it was clear that Sinclair was not used to being dominant, although he tried. So, you decided to provoke him a bit.

"Is everything okay?" Sinclair asked for the third time, his hand hovering over your reddened skin.

You bit your lip, suppressing a smile. "I'm fine, Sir," you replied, your voice a mix of reassurance and challenge. "Is that the best you can do?"

Sinclair's eyes widened slightly, his cheeks flushing as he processed your words. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice hesitant.

You wiggled your hips slightly, pressing yourself more firmly against his lap. "I mean, I thought you wanted to punish me, Sir," you said, your voice dripping with playful defiance. "But it feels like you're holding back. Maybe you're not cut out for this."

Sinclair's eyes darkened with a mix of uncertainty and determination. "Oh, really?" he murmured, his voice low and slightly shaky. "You think I can't handle being in charge?"

You smirked, enjoying the way his fingers tightened on your skin. "I think you're too gentle," you teased, your voice a seductive whisper. "I don't think you have it in you to really dominate me."

Sinclair's expression shifted, a spark of resolve igniting in his eyes. "Is that so?" he said, his voice gaining a bit more confidence. "Well, let's see about that."

Without warning, Sinclair's hand came down in a firmer spank, the sharp crack echoing in the room. You gasped, a mixture of pleasure and surprise coursing through you. "That's more like it," you moaned, your voice laced with encouragement.

Sinclair's hand continued to spank you, each slap growing harder and more deliberate. "You're such a naughty girl," he murmured, his baritone voice filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "You need to learn your place."

You arched your back, pushing your ass up to meet his hand. "Yes, Sir," you gasped, the thrill of his newfound confidence sending waves of pleasure through you. "Teach me, Sir."

Sinclair's hand paused, his fingers tracing the red marks on your skin. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of wonder and desire.

You looked back at him over your shoulder, your eyes filled with lust. "Yes, Sir," you admitted, your voice breathy. "I love it when you take control."

Sinclair's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, his hand resuming its rhythmic spanking. "Good," he murmured, his voice gaining a more commanding tone. "Because I'm not done with you yet."

As his hand continued to punish you, Sinclair's other hand moved to caress your back, his touch both soothing and possessive. "You're mine," he growled, his voice thick with desire. "All mine."

You moaned in response, the mix of pain and pleasure driving you wild. "Yes, Sir," you gasped, your body trembling with need. "I'm yours."

Sinclair's hand stilled, his fingers trailing down to tease your entrance. "Tell me how much you want it," he demanded, his voice a low, seductive rumble.

"I want it so badly, Sir," you whimpered, your voice filled with desperation. "Please, take me. Use me."

Sinclair's eyes darkened with lust, his fingers slipping inside you, his touch firm and demanding. "Good girl," he murmured, his voice filled with satisfaction. "Now, beg for it."

"Please, Sir," you begged, your voice trembling with need. "Please fuck me. I need you inside me."

Sinclair's smirk widened, his confidence growing with each passing moment. "That's more like it," he murmured, his fingers pumping in and out of you with increasing speed. "You're such a good little slut for me."

You froze in his lap, and so did Sinclair. He had never called you that before, and it was a surprise for both of you. Sinclair remained still, his fingers paused inside you, his face flushed with a mixture of shock and regret.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Sinclair began, his voice shaky and filled with panic. "I shouldn't have said that. You're not a little slut. It was wrong of me to say that. I don't know what came over me. I shouldn't have even proposed this game of submission and dominance. I—"

You silenced him by pushing yourself against his fingers, ignoring his excuses as you looked at him with intense desire. "Shut up, Sinclair," you whispered, your voice dripping with lust. "I am your dirty little slut."

Sinclair's eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to process your words. "But—" he started, but you cut him off with a fierce look.

"Call me that again," you demanded, your voice firm and commanding. "I want to hear it from your lips."

Sinclair's breath hitched, his fingers instinctively moving inside you again. "You're... my dirty little slut," he whispered, his voice filled with a mix of hesitation and desire.

You moaned, pushing yourself harder against his fingers. "Yes, Sir," you gasped, your voice thick with need. "Your dirty little slut who loves being used by you. Please, Sir, fuck me like the slut I am."

Sinclair's eyes darkened with lust, his confidence returning as he watched you writhe in his lap. "You really are a dirty little slut." he murmured, his voice gaining strength. "You love it when I call you that, don't you?"

"Yes, Sir," you moaned, your body trembling with anticipation. "I love it. I love being your dirty little slut. Please, Sir, fuck me harder."

Sinclair's hand moved faster, his fingers thrusting in and out of you with renewed intensity. "You want more, don't you?" he growled, his baritone voice filled with dominance. "You want me to treat you like the slut you are."

"Yes, Sir," you gasped, your voice barely above a whisper. "I want more. I want you to use me, to fuck me like the dirty slut I am."

Sinclair's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, his confidence growing with each passing moment. "You're mine," he growled, his voice a low, dangerous purr. "All mine. And I'm going to make sure you never forget it."

With that, he pulled his fingers out of you, his hands moving to position you on the bed. "On your hands and knees," he commanded, his voice filled with authority. "I want to see you begging for my cock."

You obeyed without hesitation, your heart racing with excitement as you positioned yourself on the bed, your ass raised high in the air. Sinclair moved behind you, his eyes dark with desire as he took in the sight before him.

"Please, Sir," you begged, your voice trembling with need. "I need you inside me. I need to feel your cock fucking me hard."

Sinclair's smirk widened, his hands gripping your hips as he positioned himself at your entrance. "You want it that badly, huh?" he teased, his voice filled with dark promise. "Well, you're going to get it."

With one swift, decisive motion, Sinclair thrust into you, filling you completely. You cried out in a mix of pleasure and surprise, your body arching against him as he began to move.

"Look at you," he murmured, his voice a mix of admiration and lust. "My dirty little slut, ready and waiting for me."

You looked over your shoulder, your gaze locking onto Sinclair. He seemed quite different, nothing like your Golden Retriever that he normally was. His blond hair was slightly tousled, his hooked nose casting shadows over his intense brown eyes. You still weren't sure if dominance suited him, but damn, he was so hot now, all dominant and talking dirty. You had never heard him talk dirty before, and you didn't even know he was capable of it. A brief thought flitted through your mind, wondering if his cheating ex-wife, Natalie, had ever heard him talk dirty like this.

Sinclair's grip on your hips tightened as he continued to thrust into you, his voice filled with a mix of authority and raw desire. "Look at you, taking my cock so well," he growled, his baritone voice sending shivers down your spine. "You're such a good little slut for me, aren't you?"

"Yes, Sir," you moaned, your body arching against him. "I'm your good little slut. Please, don't stop."

Sinclair's smirk widened, his confidence growing with each passing moment. "You love it when I fuck you like this, don't you?" he murmured, his voice thick with lust. "You love being my dirty little whore."

"Yes, Sir," you gasped, your voice trembling with need. "I love it. I love being your dirty little whore."

Sinclair's thrusts grew harder and more deliberate, his hands roaming over your body as he claimed you completely. "I want to hear you scream my name," he demanded, his voice a low, seductive rumble. "I want everyone to know who you belong to."

You cried out, the intensity of his words and the pleasure coursing through you driving you wild. "Sinclair!" you screamed, your voice filled with ecstasy. "Oh, God, Sinclair!"

"That's it," he growled, his baritone voice filled with satisfaction. "Scream for me. Let everyone know who fucks you like this."

You pushed back against him, your body trembling with the intensity of your need. "Fuck me harder, Sir," you begged, your voice thick with desire. "Make me cum. Please, make me cum."

Sinclair's eyes darkened with lust, his grip on your hips tightening as he pounded into you with relentless intensity. "You're going to cum for me," he growled, his voice a low, dangerous purr. "You're going to cum so hard, and I'm going to fill you up with my cum. You're mine, all mine."

You moaned, the pleasure building to a dizzying peak as Sinclair drove you closer and closer to the edge. "Yes, Sir," you gasped, your body trembling with anticipation. "I'm so close. Please, don't stop."

Sinclair slapped your ass, and you screamed at the blow, which made Sinclair flinch slightly. His worry overcame him as he thought he might have hurt you, and the idea killed him. You noticed his hesitation and looked over your shoulder, pushing yourself against him.

"Sinclair," you murmured, your voice filled with a mix of challenge and curiosity, "have you ever done something like this to your ex-wife, Natalie? Did you fuck her like that? Did you talk dirty to her?"

Sinclair's face flushed a deep red, his fingers tightening on your hips as he processed your question. "No," he admitted, his voice shaky. "I never did anything like this with her."

You pushed back against him, feeling a thrill of excitement at his admission. "Then show me, Sinclair," you urged, your voice dripping with lust. "Show me how much more you want me than you ever wanted her. Fuck me like you never fucked her."

Sinclair's eyes darkened with a mix of desire and determination, his grip on your hips tightening as he resumed his thrusts, harder and more deliberate than before. "You're mine," he growled, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "All mine. And I'll make sure you know it."

You moaned at his words, the pleasure and intensity of his thrusts driving you wild. "Yes, Sir," you gasped, your body trembling with need. "I'm yours. Only yours."

Sinclair's confidence grew with each passing moment, his hand coming down in another firm slap on your ass, the sharp crack echoing in the room. "That's right," he growled, his baritone voice filled with satisfaction. "You're my dirty little slut, and I'll fuck you harder than I ever fucked anyone else."

You cried out at the intensity of his thrusts, the mix of pain and pleasure sending waves of ecstasy through your body. "Please, Sir," you begged, your voice thick with desire. "Don't stop. I need you so badly."

Sinclair's hand moved to your hair, gripping it firmly as he pulled your head back, forcing you to look at him. "Look at you," he murmured, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and dominance. "So desperate for my cock. So eager to please."

You whimpered at the intensity of his gaze, the pleasure building to a dizzying peak. "Yes, Sir," you moaned, your voice trembling with need. "I love it. I love being your dirty little whore."

Sinclair's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, his thrusts growing even more intense. "You want it that badly, huh?" he teased, his voice filled with dark promise. "Well, you're going to get it."

With each powerful thrust, Sinclair drove you closer and closer to the edge, the pleasure overwhelming your senses. "Fuck, Sinclair!" you screamed, your body trembling with anticipation. "I'm so close. Please, don't stop."

"You're going to cum for me," he growled, his voice a low, dangerous purr. "You're going to cum so hard, and I'm going to fill you up with my cum. You're mine, all mine."

You moaned, the intensity of his words and the pleasure coursing through you driving you wild. "Yes, Sir," you gasped, your body trembling with need. "I'm yours. Only yours."

Sinclair's grip on your hair tightened, his thrusts growing more erratic as he chased his own climax. "Cum for me," he demanded, his voice thick with desire. "Show me just how much you love being fucked by me."

With a final, powerful thrust, Sinclair pushed you over the edge, sending you spiraling into another mind-blowing orgasm. You cried out his name, your body convulsing with the intensity of your release as Sinclair continued to pound into you, drawing out every last bit of pleasure.

Sinclair's thrusts stuttered before he came, filling you with his seed. You moaned at the sensation, your body trembling with the aftershocks of your orgasm as he groaned in pleasure, his fingers digging into your hips. As he calmed down, Sinclair pulled out of you and collapsed onto the bed next to you, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He pulled you into his chest, his shirt now stuck against his skin from sweat, having only taken off his boxer shorts to fuck you.

You watched as the dominant Sinclair disappeared, replaced by the familiar, gentle Golden Retriever demeanor you knew so well. He began to chatter, his voice filled with a mixture of worry and affection. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry," he blurted out, his brown eyes wide with concern. "I didn't mean to cum inside you without asking first. I got so caught up in the moment, and I—"

You silenced him with a kiss, your fingers tangling in his blond hair as you pressed your lips to his. "It's okay, Sinclair," you murmured against his mouth, your voice filled with reassurance. "I wanted it. I loved it."

Sinclair's expression softened, his cheeks flushing as he looked at you with a mixture of relief and affection. "Really?" he asked, his voice still tinged with uncertainty. "I just... I never want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable."

You smiled, caressing his cheek with your thumb. "You didn't," you assured him. "You were amazing. I loved every second of it."

Sinclair let out a relieved sigh, his arms tightening around you as he nuzzled your neck. "I'm glad," he murmured, his voice returning to its usual chatty tone. "I was so worried. I've never done anything like that before, and I wasn't sure if I was doing it right."

You laughed softly, the sound mingling with the remnants of your earlier moans. "You did great, Sinclair," you replied, your voice filled with genuine affection. "You were perfect."

Sinclair's eyes lit up with a mixture of pride and happiness. "Thank you," he said, his voice warm and filled with emotion. "I really enjoyed it, too. It's nice to try new things and explore together."

You nodded, feeling a sense of contentment settle over you as you lay in his arms. "I agree," you murmured, your fingers tracing patterns on his chest. "I love exploring with you."

Sinclair smiled, his hooked nose casting shadows over his intense gaze. "There's so much more I want to try," he admitted, his voice filled with excitement. "I want to keep exploring, keep learning about what we both enjoy."

You looked up at him, your eyes filled with affection. "I'm looking forward to it," you said softly, your voice filled with anticipation. "I love you, Sinclair."

Sinclair's eyes softened, his expression filled with genuine love and affection. "I love you too," he murmured, pressing a tender kiss to your forehead. "And I promise, I'll always make sure you're comfortable and happy."

You smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and security in his embrace. "I know you will," you whispered, your voice filled with confidence. "And I'll always be here, exploring and learning with you."

As you lay there, entwined in each other's arms, the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of you lost in the sweet afterglow of your shared passion. The night had been intense, filled with a delicious mix of pleasure and pain, but in that moment, all that mattered was the connection between you and Sinclair, the man who could satisfy you in ways you had never imagined.

[valley-of-headcanons]

If I can request, you did the way the bachelorettes react to ex-stardom. I enjoyed it so much and would love to see it for the bachelors too?

I love your writings ;u; ♡

bachelors reacting to your ex-stardom || headcanons

being in the limelight was fun for a while, but settling down is definitely what you needed. but how would your partner react to your past? part one here!

warnings: nothing that i can see! :)

requested by: anon! hii, thank you so much for the request! this topic is pretty interesting, and i really enjoyed writing for everyone! be sure to check out part one, it adds a little more context and i think it's super duper cool and you're definitely missing out. anyway! hope you enjoy :)

alex

• You and Alex were on the beach, resting after tossing around the Gridball. He got on the topic of his dream of playing Gridball professionally, and how although he wanted to make it big and turn his passion into a profession, he wouldn't know what to do with himself. He's been such a shut-in these last few years, only really hanging out with you and his grandparents. The fame sounds so scary. But ... you knew that all too well. He didn't know that, though. Maybe it was time.

• You slowly told Alex that you knew a lot about being famous, before explaining who you were. “Wait- what?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?! I love your music! Genuinely, like I listen to it all the time ... I know it's not really the manliest choice and it's my guilty pleasure- not to say men shouldn't listen to your music! Oh my yoba- sorry- ... I love your music. That's what I'm trying to say. It's really really good.”

• As you explained why you left the limelight, Alex nodded understandingly. “Yeah, Gridball will always be a dream of mine, but the people I'd be around are probably not good. Maybe staying in the town isn't such a bad idea, huh? I don't think anyone could really beat hangin' with you, grandma, and grandpa.”

• Alex soon opened up about which of your songs was his favorite, and asked in depth about them. There were some that really spoke to him emotionally, and he had a really bad time dealing with that sort of stuff. The fact that you created something he relates to makes him happier than ever! He scored pretty good, if he says so himself.

• Regardless of your old fame, he's still deeply in love with you. He admires your talent, but that doesn't overshadow how you've helped him in his life since you've actually been in it. He will still listen to your music, but maybe a little more publicly. He wouldn't tell anyone unless you said it was okay, but he'd totally be bragging about you if he were allowed.

elliott

• Elliott was not having a great writing session. He invited you over, incredibly stumped with his latest novel. He was bouncing ideas off of you left and right, but nothing would stick! You mentioned that music could be an inspiration, and it was like a lightbulb smacked him in the forehead. He raced over to his stereo and turned on the radio. A cheese-y pop tune ... YOUR cheese-y pop tune. He was embarrassed over the pop playing and immediately turned it, but he did notice your expression and inquired.

• You explained that the song on the radio was a song that you wrote and sang yourself. He was startled at first. “I didn't know we had such a big star in our midst! Are those your lyrics as well? I didn't pin you as such a wonderful writer, but I am so grateful! Someone that shares my writing prowess! I knew some invisible string brought us together!”

• As you continue to explain your past and why you came out to Pelican Town, Elliott nods along, hearing your story. “I didn't realize how similar we are. I understand wanting to get away from it all, that's why I'm out here as well. I suppose you came here to get away from your work, and I came to get closer to it. How awfully poetic that is, don't you think?”

• He asked a lot of questions, really diving deep into your mind. Of course, he only asked if you were comfortable with it. He loved analyzing people's minds, especially if they were different from his own. He may or may not use some of these aspects of your life in his new novel. With your permission, of course. You've always been his biggest muse.

• Elliott is invested in your life, like any good partner should, and admires your creative talent. This only heightens his view of you, as you are an artist, just like him. Despite the different mediums, you two share a lot in common. He would love you regardless of this aspect, but this only draws you two closer.

harvey

• Harvey was giving you a check-up, which was a bit unethical now that you were dating, but eh. He's the only doctor in the town and he's very worried about your health. He noticed that you mentioned a previous injury when checking your knee reflexes. This injury has occurred in a rehearsal for one of your tours. You didn't want to lie to your sweet boyfriend, so you had to admit the truth.

• As he wrote on his clipboard your reasoning, he stopped for a moment. “Tour? Popstar? Is this one of your sarcastic comments that I'm not getting? ... oh, really? You've never mentioned that part of your life before. Please, if you want to open up about it, show me some of your work once we get home. I hate to admit, but I'm fairly curious,” he said with a soft, caring smile.

• When you two get home after the checkup, he starts to cook dinner. “Please, keep me company while I cook. If you'd like to share some stories ... well, only if you're comfortable with it, I know that you got away from fame for a reason, but ... I want to know that part of your life, just like I know this one. Indulge me, if you would, my love.”

• He tries his best to support this part of your life, even if he wasn't involved. He ends up purchasing a lot of your old music and keeping a collection, showing it as a sign of affection. He listens to it while he does household chores, humming along to your songs happily while you're away.

• Harvey didn't mind this aspect of your life. It was another thing that made you the person he loves. He listens to everything you say and pays attention, specifically to the parts of fame you enjoyed and didn't enjoy. He only asked about the stuff you liked, and allowed you to open up about the hard times on your own, when you were ready. He was incredibly careful about the whole thing, and wouldn't dare make you uncomfortable.

sam

• As you and Sam were relaxing in his room one day, he was fiddling with his guitar. He seemed super stumped, strumming random chords to try and make some sense. Nothing was working ... he eventually showed you something that sounds sort of functional? But this rhythm was VERY similar to a song you put out a long time ago. You let out a soft giggle, which left Sam confused. You had to explain now.

• You drop the fact that you were a popstar in a nonchalant manner, trying to make it not a huge deal. But it's Sam. Of course it's a big deal. “No. Fucking. WAY! You're kidding, you've gotta be fucking with me! And you didn't tell me?! For SHAME! As punishment, you've gotta tell me all about it and I will refuse to change the topic. Now SPILL!”

• You explained who you are and why you left everything behind, which Sam thought about for a moment. “Wow ... I never really bought about fame that way. That must've been a lot, and I really do get why you came all the way down here. I'm just glad you're here now, y'know? ... but if you do end up getting the itch to create some music again, with no strings attached to fame, I'm always here. I'd love to create somethin' sick with you.”

• Sam always asked questions about the parts of fame he didn't know much about. Did you go to any parties? Was this person actually chill or were they a dick? He was so curious and asked probably the weirdest questions imaginable, but they were refreshing. And if you weren't the first person Sam showed his music to before, you were now. He always asked for your approval, and asked how to improve. It was extremely sweet.

• Even though he was excited about everything you had presented to him, he tried his best to be respectful. If you asked him to stop, he would with a nod and a quick apology, giving you a small kiss before putting the topic to bed. He still loved you for you! This aspect about you is just so cool and interesting to him. He adores you regardless, and wouldn't trade the current version of you for anyone else.

sebastian

• Sebastian had just finished working for the day and needed to relax. He flopped down on his couch and pressed the button on his radio. The pop station came on, and he was about to turn it before you walked in. You were shocked to hear your own song playing, staring at him with wide eyes. He makes some sarcastic comments about how this is actually his music taste and you just don't understand him. He doesn't understand why you're so shocked, though.

• As you slowly drop the bomb, he lets out a little chuckle. “Hah. Funny. You can drop the act, I can tell you're fuckin' with me ... are you really a world renowned superstar with several albums with hundreds of chart toppers? Like I believe that! Why the hell would you choose Pelican Town of all places to live, huh? This is the type of town you need to run away from.”

• You eventually have to explain why you left, why that lifestyle really wasn't you. He's actually at a loss for words for a moment, before nodding. “I didn't expect that out of you, you really are full of surprises. Tell me more, if you wanna. I'd be willing to listen. If you don't wanna talk about all that shit though, it's fine. Whatever you wanna do,” he said with a welcoming smile.

• Your music was FAR from what Sebastian listened to commonly. His Radiohead collection can attest for that. But ... he decided to take a listen to your music. He's very picky usually, so this is a pretty good feat. He actually kind of enjoyed it, for once. Maybe you're leading him down the path of liking something that's not edgy. Hmm. That's nice.

• Sebastian found this part of you incredibly interesting, but he didn't ask many questions. If you wanted him to know, he would, and he respected that. He loves hearing you talk about anything that you're passionate about, or just hearing you talk in general. It's arguably one of his favorite past times.

shane

• You and Shane were sitting by the pier one night. This was Shane's safe spot, attempting not to start drinking again. You two spent several afternoons sitting under the glow of the stars with an old cassette player and some of Shane's favorite songs. One of these nights, he mentioned that his childhood dream was to be an actor, and how weird fame seemed. He would hate being famous ... and you did too. This would be a perfect time to drop this bomb.

• You mentioned your past to Shane, but he brushed it off. “Uh huh. And I'm actually a famous bowler but I fucked up my arm and now I'm destined to live the rest of my life in this little shit hole. Oh, my poor dreams. How sad,” he said, his dry humor biting with sarcasm. He noticed your facial expressions ... they weren't sarcastic. “... I'm sober right? You didn't spike my drink or somethin' and you're tryin' to fuck with me ... huh. Now that's a topic.”

• You explained everything, mainly about why you came back here. You figured Shane wouldn't really know much about who you were, that's not his type of music anyway. “Huh. Nice. I figured you were just some corporate big league who got tired of the white walls. A lot of things make a lot more sense, I guess. You're a lot more talented than I thought ... sorry, that was mean- let me rephrase ... you are talented. I really am tryin' to get better about that ...”

• Shane didn't ask much about it further, but would listen if you brought it up again. He ended up stumbling across your work ... it was way better than he imagined. Maybe because it was you. It was a source of comfort to him, and he often listened to your beautiful voice when he was in a dark time. It helped him through a lot.

• He didn't mind your past, you had a lot less skeletons in your closet than he did. He liked hearing your voice, so it was a win-win. He got this down-to-Earth side of you that he enjoys being around, but he can also listen to his star-studded partner whenever he wants. He wouldn't tell you that, though. That's his little secret.

[wintersoulwitch]

i'd honestly loveee to hear you yap more about the film you wrote for the 48hr film thing (only stuff you're comfortable w/ sharing ofc)!!!!

Okayyyy I didn’t want to go on and on about it, but seeing as both you and @yonderghostshistories have asked for more plot details then fuck it, here's an illustrated breakdown with some director's commentary 😁

We start with some kind of broken down desolate post apocalyptic industrial complex. (Actually an abandoned airbase a few miles out of Newcastle). A portal appears - because it’s sci fi! And because the DoP said she could animate portals during our initial brainstorming sessions so I was like: Right, we’re using that!

Our two leads emerge from the portal… Dawn is a badass action hero type. Chris is the anxious tech nerd. They both wear leather jackets, because post-apocalypse. Chris fiddles with a handheld Device - a sci fi tech prop we made by hotgluing a lighting gel frame to a broken camera remote - and announces that the cameras have been disabled, which gives them 5 minutes to find the server room and set off the self-destruct sequence. 

"I was also at that briefing, thank you," sneers Dawn. We’ve got exposition, characterisation and interpersonal dynamics within the first 30 seconds, fuck yeah efficient storytelling! 

The two of them continue on their way. Chris has the feeling that they’re being watched. Dawn dismisses her as just being paranoid. 

But then! Evil henchman dude appears and tries to steal The Device from Chris. This bit didn't turn out so good for a couple of reasons that really all boil down to not having enough time. So anyway you're not getting anything from the "action" scene itself, but we do get a badass film still of Dawn and a dramatic gif of Chris.

Also the poor guy who played the henchman was left lying in the long grass while we continued filming the scene and ended up getting a rash from nettles. At this point we also attracted the attention of a group of youths who wanted to know what we were doing and whether the film was gonna be shown on TV. And then an elderly dog walker was concerned about our henchmen guy lying down in the grass and it took a while to convince him that everything was fine (I was put in mind of the TLOG S3 outtake of Mark Gatiss lying on the pavement as Phill Proctor and that confused passerby asking if he was OK.)

And then the police arrived! Because the youths were setting fire to things.

Anyway, back to the story. Dawn picks up The Device and scolds Chris - "If he’d got hold of that, we would have been stuck here." Aha, more exposition! The Device Must Be Kept Safe so they can portal outta there. Seems like that bit of information might be important later 🤔

Absolutely love the next bit - Dawn tugging Chris’ arm and leading her along.

Chris: There wasn't supposed to be any security left in this complex! Dawn: Well your intel was wrong, wasn't it?

Yeah, Dawn is fucking done.

We hear a speaker sputter to life and a sexy AI voice (ahem guess who did the voiceover?) starts broadcasting.

Then we come to one of my absolute favourite shots: This lovely focus pull from Dawn to Chris...

And my favourite bit of Dawn/Chris interactions: Their argument as Dawn finally snaps

Chris: She knows we're coming Dawn: It knows we're coming. It's a computer, not a person. Let's not get sentimental. Chris: She was MY partner and MY friend Dawn: It's not Sarah! It's a machine!

(Friend, eh, Chris? Special friend? Maybe you were roommates?) 

Dawn has had enough of Chris’s shit. She needs to get this mission over and done with. Find the server room, initiate the self destruct sequence, get the fuck out. C'mon, we've got an Evil AI to blow up!

We have a lovely tracking shot following Dawn into the bunker. It was tricky to do but DoP was very pleased with how it turned out!

We'd pretty much wrapped all our exterior shots so it was time to head to the location for our bunker/server room (ie the DoP's garage). We had an annoying moment where the owner of the brown leather jacket that Chris wears wouldn't let us keep it for any longer. We filmed some scenes of Chris taking the jacket off before entering the bunker for continuity purposes but honestly they looked shit and didn't serve any narrative purpose and were distracting. So we cut it and just trusted that the interior shots were dark enough that no one would really notice.

OK, so we go into the bunker and hear some lovely atmospheric buzzes and hums. Green lighting courtsey of a neon sign the DoP bought for her son's birthday party.

They reach the server room and… What’s this? Sarah? 

Yes, Chris’s friend/partner/ex(?) has become one with the machine! It’s Cyborg Sarah the Evil AI! 

We were up til 1am filming in the DoP's garage, I wrapped this poor girl in a bunch of cables and kettle leads and we had her precariously balanced on some broken tiles. Delirium had set in, we were absolutely shattered, and the garage was an absolute health and safety nightmare of dodgy electrics and trailing wires.

Chris realises that if they set off the self-destruct then Sarah will be blown up and she'll truly lose her forever. In a state of grief/panic/bargaining she tries to free Cyborg Sarah from the machine. 

Dawn: It almost looks real… Chris: She is real! Dawn: Chris, no... Chris: We can't leave her here! We have to take her with us! If we leave her here, she'll die!

Chris, you idiot, can't you see it's too late? She’s One With the Machine! Dawn and Chris have a scuffle, a tube is pulled out of Cyborg Sarah and sprays engine oil/cyborg blood over the wall. In all the commotion, the Device is shattered on the ground.

Uh oh! The AI voice taunts them: Your portal device is destroyed. There's no way for you to leave the complex. If you activate the self destruct then we will all go together. Ha. Ha. Ha. 

Chris falls to her knees in despair and Dawn takes a moment to weigh up her options... Complete the mission and sacrifice herself, or save herself but let the Evil AI continue its unspecified reign of terror?

We have a lovely shot of Dawn wiping the cyborg blood off a mirror and smearing her reflection. You can't really see the "blood" in the gif but it took fucking ages to get it to spray across the mirror without getting anyone's hands in shot.

Dawn makes her decision... "Guess we're all going together, then."

She enters the access code, and the AI voice speaks: Self destruct sequence initiated… Music selected...

The sound of a piano begins to play...

Dawn leaves a sobbing Chris and goes outside for the last time. She looks up at the sky, takes a deep breath, and accepts her death... 

🎼When you attend a funeral / It is sad to think that sooner or / Later those you love will do the same for you / And you may have thought it tragic / (Not to mention other adjectives) / To think of all the weeping they will do / But don't you worry / For if the bomb that drops on you / Gets your friends and neighbours too... / There'll be nobody left behind to grieve

The bunker explodes in a blaze of white heat and Dawn, Chris, and whatever is left of Sarah are all incinerated. 

But the Evil AI is defeated, so yay? 

[smolmakerel]

"Do you sit down in the shower, Tara?"

Tara blinked in surprised before narrowing her eyes. "What?"

Her new therapist, Abby Turner, was staring at her with a relaxed expression of genuine curiosity. She didn't really look the part of a therapist, sitting there in a yellow cardigan that matched the socks with SpongeBob on them. If anything, she looked a lot like a teacher Tara had in second grade minus the thick rimmed glasses.

"Do you sit down whenever you take a shower?" Abby asked again, shifting to cross her legs. She drew her fingernail over the metal clip of her clipboard.

Still, Tara was taken aback by such a question. She felt oddly seen through.

"Why?" Tara shot back instead.

Abby laughed softly. "There's no need to be defensive. I was going over our notes from last time and thought about what you said."

What she said? What did Tara say, exactly?

"I don't remember saying anything bad," mumbled Tara.

"No, nothing bad. I'm sorry if I made you panic."

At that, Tara hardened her gaze and looked away. Leave it to the therapist to know when her thoughts were spiraling out of control. God, Tara only had 7 sessions with her, and Abby thought she knew everything about Tara.

"It's ok if you do," Abby went on to say. Tara's face soured, and Abby unfortunately caught that. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Another one?" Tara tried to joke, but Abby saw through her facade. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to play 20 questions."

She chuckled awkwardly. "Why do you sit down in the shower?"

"Because... I uh..."

"Take your time."

Tara was at a loss for words. Why did she sit down in the shower? She never really noticed she did it until Abby sent her back with homework to figure out things she noticed about her dailey routine. Which included an hour long shower; Tara would be sitting in the tub allowing the hot water to hit her back. While she sat, tremors would rack her body and her irritation would rise.

"I get in the shower in the morning," Tara explained slowly, still processing her thoughts. "Before class so no one has to see me all... icky."

"And do you think there might be another reason for sitting down?" Abby inquired. "I only ask because of your water bottle comment."

Tara looked unsure at that. She brought her hands to her lap to fidget with her nails. The comfortable gray armchair she sat on never felt more uncomfortable under the watchful eye of her therapist.

"S-Sorry, but I don't remember talking about that."

"That's ok," her therapist assured her. "Last time, you talked about how you needed to clean your room. You have a lot of water bottles on your table and floor, clothes in your bed."

Recognition flashed in Tara's eyes. "Right. Sorry."

"Depression and anxiety after a traumatic event is completely normal, Tara. In fact, I would be surprised if you didn't have one of those with what you've been through."

Tara shrugged. "It's nothing. Other people have been through more than me; I'm just being selfish."

Selfish. She had always been selfish; even her own mother thought so, and she made sure to remind Tara anytime she was in town.

Abby wrote something down, nodding to herself as if all of Tara's issues were understandable now.

"I sit on the floor," Tara suddenly said in the uncomfortable silence. She didn't look at her therapist at all, ashamed. "I get so... tired sometimes. And it isn't because of the metal in my leg! It's me! I wake up tired, go through the day angry because of how tired I am, and go to sleep tired. But then I can't sleep and I just..." She huffed in frustration, nails dug into her palms. "I don't know what to do."

Abby leaned back in her chair and flipped her clipboard over on her lap. Her eyes watched Tara's face closely.

"Is there anything you have that could help you sleep?" Abby asked. "A stuffed animal, a nightlight...?"

Tara's mind immediately drifted to her older sister. Sam was strong enough to keep Tara's night terrors away, yet she's soft enough to wrap Tara in her arms and calm her down. No matter how much Tara yells and sobs in her sleep, no matter the bloody scratch marks on her arms, no matter how Tara dissociates to protect herself. Sam was always there.

"No," Tara claimed instead.

Abby cocked her head. "And your sister isn't willing to help you?"

Tara shook her head. "No, she is but... I don't want to bother her with my problems."

Abby flipped her clipboard back over and wrote something down. Tara wanted to chuck the damn thing out the window. She lowered the clipboard again.

"Based on what you've told me about your sister, she sounds like just the person you need at night," Abby pointed out with a soft smile. "I'm sure she'd be willing to help if you asked."

'But I can't!' The words burn acid on Tara's tongue.

"Ok."

Fuck.

[♡♡♡]

Tara raised her hand at Sam's door and drew it into a fist. It hovered in the air for a long few seconds.

Then she knocked.

The door opened not even a second later, and Sam was standing there rubbing her eyes.

"Tara?" Sam mumbled. She instantly woke up, eyes darting over Tara looking for some sort of injury. "Are you ok? What are you doing up right now?"

"Can... Can I sleep in here with you?" Tara asked and before Sam could respond, she was babbling. "I'm sorry if I woke you up with this. Fuck, I'm so stupid. This was a mistake, I didn't mean to wake you up with my stupid problems. I-I'll go back to my room. Sorry -"

"Tara."

Tara's breathing hitched when Sam gently cupped her face, and - Oh. That was actually kind of nice. She sank into the warmth of Sam's palms.

"Let's go to bed, ok?" Sam whispered.

Tara nodded, throat thick with emotion. "Ok."

It was about 20 minutes later when they were settled in Sam's bed. Tara was dozing off finally, face buried into Sam's chest as her arms wrapped around her.

She stirred slightly when Sam kissed the top of her head. Her fingers tucked a few strands of hair out of Tara's face.

"I love you, Tara," Sam muttered.

Tara, too exhausted to say anything, simply turned her head and kissed Sam on the palm. She settled back down and relaxed into a peaceful sleep.

[shenanigans-and-imagines]

Evie (Ace!Tav) Playthrough Day 4

(I love Evie in this fit)

Day 1… Day 3- Day 5

Astarion x Evie (Ace!Tav) Masterlist

For the uninitiated, I wrote a Tav well before I ever had a chance to play the game. Now, I finally can and thought it might be fun for my first play through to be as that Tav. Or, at least as much as the game play will allow me.

These are just some of my notes and scattered highlights that I thought would be fun to share.

Let me know if you think if I should continue this and any suggestions you might have.

So much happened you guys holy shit!!!

Technically this is a combination of two days, since I didn't have time last night and figured I'd wait until after I played some more today (there is just so much of this game I feel like two hour sessions barely scratch the surface)

First off, it took me way too long to figure out how to deactivate the traps in the back cavern in the Emerald Grove

Legitimately nearly died twice; if it weren't for my saves I would have

Not ashamed to admit, I needed to google it; I have never claimed to be a "gamer"

Still got it sorted (and if anybody knows how to get to that center bit in the middle of the cavern, please let me know)

After that decided to go after best girl Karlach

Ran into the Owl Bear cave first and I am upset

I *really* didn't want to kill the Owl Bear mama, but even with non-lethal damage the cub still eats it's mother; seems like it all is the same in the end

I'm now thinking more and more that Evie and Shadowheart get to be good friends; Evie takes a more benefit of the doubt approach to people, and I don't think she knows enough about the Gods and Shar specifically to have many thoughts on the subject

I've been purposefully handing all the books and other info to whoever else is there so Evie doesn't get the info from reading

Lae'zel and Shadowheart are also majorly at each other's throats in the first act

Lae'zel also would not be a fan of Evie; Evie comparatively talks way too much for Lae'zel's taste (+11 to Persuasion will do that to a person) (did I mention I love bards)

Did eventually get to Karlach and she's so great guys! I knew I was going to love her, but I *love* her

She deserves to wreck the Paladins of Tyr hide out, as a treat

(That one bitch was giving me so much trouble, thank God for Wyll's Eldritch Blast or we would have been spending all our actions just trying to keep up)

I am once again faced with not being able to punch a ginger bitch because of *consequences*

Also, I hate all the options they give you when talking to Wyll after he's transformed into a devil

None of this is what Evie would say to him!

Either way though, I am secure in the fact that Wyll would like Evie (even if he's not a fan of her trust in Astarion)

So, one long rest later and we're heading towards the Blighted Villiage; Astarion, Gale and Karlach in toe

Came across the boar and Astarion really is so suspicious

I also think at this point Astarion really doesn't know what to make of Evie; placing her in category bleeding heart no doubt and not certain of her abilities

She's a good talker, as she's able to convince the goblins to let them pass without a fight

On the other hand, she did assists Gale with his little problem, sacrificing a necklace of Dancing Lights

Also it doesn't help that she was nice to a gnome

I think what starts to change his mind though is when they meet Raphael on the road

I really do wish you could give Gur as a background, because even if Evie didn't grow up in the caravan, I do think just culturally she'd pick up on stuff

Not trusting devils I'm sure is top of the list

I wasn't expecting to have Evie so viscerally mistrusting of Raphael, but it felt right to play it that way

I'm not sure who he'd remind her of in her past, but I do think there is something beyond just him being a devil that rubs her the wrong way

Either way, her rejection of a devil's bargain that would not only enslave her, but likely them as well, even in exchange for a cure does re-color some things

Not sure where to insert this in the grand scheme of the narrative, but Evie did let Astarion open the door on the orger and hobgoblin

Evie's talking did not help in this situation

I know the narrative makes it clear what's happening, but I'm thinking Evie might have had a random ace blind spot moment

Like she's not totally naive about sex, but when it's usually the last thing on your mind (and you just talked with a devil), it's not the first thing you picture at the sound of banging

Not her smoothest moment; (honestly the sudden violence is a god send for everyone not to ask her more questions about it)

Either way, went back to the grove with some of the infernal iron and got Karlach stabilized at least

I love Karlach and Wyll's friendship, I support wholesome ships; low key starting to ship her with Dammon though

He's real cute, Karlach deserves a nice guy, and you know he'd roll with the punches

Another long rest later and we're here

The scene

I've been thinking about the build up to this scene

Obviously we know in origins it's after Astarion has a vision of Cazador and wanting to push the limits of his new found freedom by going against one of his rules

But I keep coming back to why Evie

Astarion can likely smell something being wrong with Gale's blood, Wyll just turned into a devil and would likely kill him, Karlach's blood is literal fire, and Lae'zel would also absolutely kill him

That leaves Shadowheart and Evie

Shadowheart is a big question mark to him; she follows Shar, maybe she might even like being bitten

But then there's Evie who has shown time and time again that she wants to help

This is about survival after all, and it would only be a taste

IDK, exploring it; add it to the list of possible future fics

But Evie obviously does wake up and does allow Astarion to bite her

As for Evie's motivations as to why, yes, Astarion is a prickly bastard, but he's in the same boat as the rest of them

If he wanted to hurt them, surely he would have done it by now

She recognizes the look in his eyes, Gods know she's worn it enough; the man is starving, the fact he hasn't done anything until now says a lot

This is definitely the shift in her and Astarion's relationship where they start to actually warm up to each other

So next morning gang wakes up, Evie stands up to Astarion saying she trusts him and heads out again towards the goblin camp; Shadowheart, Astarion and Lae'zel in toe

So Evie's current standing with the party;

Gale has disclosed his condition and gotten the first magical item; high rating with Evie, thinks of her as somebody who he can not only trust, but as someone who has shown bravery and true kindness (not to mention eloquence); maybe starting to form an...appreciation

Wyll has turned into a devil and certainly likes Evie, but maybe a little doubtful in her trust in Astarion and some dealings with the goblins

Shadowheart; genuinely trusts Evie as she's revealed her ambitions as a follower of Shar, and used the artifact in front of Evie in order to protect them from the influence of The Absolute (also might be starting to crush on her, but Evie has not been taking the opportunity to flirt)

Karlach: too soon to tell, but seems like a good person

Lae'zel: not a fan, too weak willed and doesn't know her place; talks too much

Astarion; unsure, certainly knows he can trust her now, to an extent; still too much of a bleeding heart, but then again, it's helped him; at the very least she knows to draw the line with devils and willing to kill to stay alive, over all a fair ally to have

Oh! I can't believe I forgot about my new best boy!

Scratch!

[ask-the-crimson-king]

Tales from Black Crusade... Kind Of

It's been a while since I've made any sort of post like this, be it Warhammer TTRPG related or other-TTRPG related. For those who are wondering or care, I am currently in 3 campaigns -- playing in a Pathfinder 2e Campaign, and DM'ing a Dragonlance game and a reboot of an old campaign that I've wrote about before here on Tumblr.

That campaign being Black Crusade, which fell apart almost a year ago now. But we tried a reboot, and some things are happening.

This will just be a mini-post about one snippet of last night's session, purely because the scene was just amazing and I'd like to try and share it with other humans.

However, before I can even do that, I'll briefly introduce the player characters, even though the scene in question only really involves two or three of them:

ZACHARIAH CAIN - Former World Eater, current diabolist attached to the 17th Host of Word Bearers. Has recently mutated a lot due to the destabilizing presence of a Slaaneshi daemon prince, and is on the verge of either ascending or becoming Chaos Spawn, neither outcome seeming very appetizing.

SOHN'IK ERINACEUS - An Emperor's Children raptor who is all about extreme speed and is generally always in a good mood. Happily will run into danger for fun. If you get the meaning behind his name, you get a cookie. Also as an aside, this character is unironically genuinely amazing, their player plays him SUPER well and he's a treat at the table. I'll discuss his exploits in a later post, potentially.

SOLOMON GRUNDY - Death Guard who was attached to the Lords of Silence and generally doesn't remember much about his life because he died and came back holding a seed from a Barbaran oak tree. Grundy also has befriended a tiny nurgling and is the fire support for the party.

Finally, and potentially controversially,

ARTORIAS - I would list out all of his names but there's too many. Artorias is a renegade Custodian who was lost out in the Warp for millennia, its exposure slowly breaking down the geneforging that locked his mind into being happy to be used as a tool and weapon of the Emperor. He was later found and convinced that his way was a way of slavery, and that he could find freedom elsewhere. He acts as a hidden guardian of Apostle Ans'ar of the 17th Host.

Artorias deserves a post all on his own. Some people may be rolling their eyes but bear with me, I promise his lore is not completely gary stu cringe. I allowed it because the campaign is being done in Wrath & Glory, and the party is at Tier 5, and there was some acceptable homebrew to make a Custodian. Trust, I am generally someone who likes to err on the side of canon and lore. Plus my player really wanted to make a renegade Custodes, and I didn't want to "no, but" him, and it's led to some really great storytelling and moments in the campaign.

BUT this tale is not about Artorias. This is about the current exploits of our new band of Misfits.

Zachariah sends out a call to try and get the ear of Kor Phaeron. Already this may sound insane but bear with me. The party has come up with a very long-winded plan that involves the creation and maintaining of several Warpstorms in and around the Eye of Terror. There's several other aspects including Titan Legions, Knight Houses, the Dark Mechanicum, at least three other Legions [not in their entirety, but a decent showing of force], and potentially the Blood Pact, but that would require maybe an additional 5,000 words to explain the context for.

The party is in pretty good standing with the Word Bearers, and they needed someone who was a very adept ritualist with a large reach to assist in this endeavor. So they shot for the stars and, with dice on their side, they got what they wanted.

One of my players happens to have a very good voice for Kor Phaeron, and he offered to take up the role for me. He's played the old bastard in the past for a campaign, so I agree to let him do it. I set the scene a bit so he can understand Kor Phaeron's current mindset, and he gets to work.

I basically tell him where we last had seen him at the end of Throne of Light, explain how he probably feels in the aftermath, and a couple of additional campaign-specific details.

I cannot express in words alone how this man nailed his character so pristinely.

Zachariah gets in contact with the Dark Cardinal himself, and invites him to this grand theatre of war that he, the 17th Host, and the small band of Misfits are putting together alongside allies within the Emperor's Children. Most of the plan he is relaying is the brainchild of Solmon Grundy and Sohn'ik Erinaceus, with some add-ons by Zachariah and Artorias. It's a very, very ambitious plan, and one that, if executed very well, can and will work. What he is not saying is how this is all connected to an insane idea that the Apostle currently has, because the Apostle knows it's an idea that could absolutely get him killed and the 17th disbanded.

Kor Phaeron takes a moment to think. He then asks why he -- and his Legion, in particular -- would really be interested in such an engagement. Surely this is something the III Legion can handle on their own. Why should they be meddling in this great conflict to come?

Zachariah says that there could be glory to be found in an alliance here, and that Kor Phaeron's own expertise is needed. The old man says that he cannot see how, and presses Zachariah on why this conflict matters so deeply to him. Again, this sounds like the business of another Legion, yet he's speaking with urgency and is trying desperately to sway him. Surely there must be something else here.

And then Zachariah makes what we in the industry call a "Gift of Gab moment".

Zachariah sells out the actual intentions of his Apostle.

And immediately my player who's playing Kor Phaeron starts doing his villain laugh.

"He said it in character, I do not want to do takes-backsies, let's roll with this."

I could feel everyone tensing at the table and I decide to have Ans'ar, the Apostle who just got sold for 62 cents, jump in and try to defend and explain himself.

Kor Phaeron then says, "You have from the time I walk from my personal chambers to the strategium deck to explain the reason for the 17th not deserving chastisement or reorganization."

They can hear the tread of his heavy boots upon the decking and the clicking of his claws as he speaks.

So he tries to sum up everything neatly and as swiftly as he can, with Zachariah occasionally butting in to offer some extra details. Out of character, the table is tense and everyone is saying "oh fucking no".

What is the plan that could get all of them absolutely wiped without a second thought? Well.

Ans'ar and several other Apostles have come up with a plan to force the primarch out of his seclusion using a massive ritual. They need the ritual to go off because they hope to empower Lorgar so that he can kill the burgeoning Star Child and also bring a measure of order to the Warp.

With such a daring plan, there are obviously many ways for this to go wrong, but if it goes right, it means Lorgar is out active in the galaxy again, and that could be bad news if you're depending on him not being out and about for the next while.

Kor Phaeron has heard a few murmurings and rumors about a number of Hosts who seemed to be conspiring about something, but the nature of it was mostly veiled or it seemed not to be of great interest. And now he is very, very interested.

Of course, involving Kor Phaeron would absolutely and inevitably mean that the cat would get out of the bag at some point, but this was absolutely not the time. This was just supposed to be a quick "will you help us?" and if he said no, proceed without him. This was a Hail Mary, a "hey, wouldn't it be hilarious if we could do this?" and I let them roll for it.

If he DID say yes, they tell him the plan when the pieces are already in place and the board is set. That way, even if he objects, there's not much he could do to stop it or interfere.

In this instance, the pieces have just been outlined, nowhere near to being put into place. Which now means that Kor Phaeron can now have free reign over the entire plan and twist it to his whims.

SOOOO now Kor Phaeron has a very vested interest in knowing all the ins and outs of this plan, when it is being conducted, and by whom. He expects all of these answers when he meets with Ans'ar in person. He tells the Apostle that he is, for now, "grounded", and is to remain in place until Kor Phaeron arrives.

And right before he cuts contact, as he enters the strategium and everyone hears the tensing of Terminators in greeting, he has a few final words for Ans'ar in quiet Colchisian:

"My son will not return by your hand."

The connection drops dead.

Plans begin changing fast. The nature of Artorias's very existence is a secret to all but those within the Host, and if Kor Phaeron finds out, then Ans'ar may be in bigger trouble than planning a massive primarch ganking ritual. However, at this point, Artorias is demanding to be at the Apostle's side as part of his honor guard once Kor Phaeron arrives. So is Zachariah, as one of his Masters of Possession, much to Zikar-Sin's protesting.

Grundy & Sohn'ik both have to depart in order to begin organizing their parts of the grand plan -- Sohn'ik to try and find and recruit the Riotous Host, Grundy to go find the Lords of Silence. Of course, other allies are also being contacted -- we're going to be having a small cameo next session of an Alpha Legionnaire from a past player who just couldn't schedule the game in -- but I'm very excited.

Now I get to plan out a LOT of potential networking, combat, and the arrival of the bastard himself. That's all going to be very fun.

Since his PC is going to be Away -- not a decision made so he could continue to guest NPC as Kor Phaeron, that was already decided on before Zachariah's PC decided to be like "hey, could I try Skype calling him?" -- Grundy's player will probably be playing him again with me handing him some rough bullet points and notes on what I want to have hit with him.

Very excited to see where this goes, we're only a few sessions away from the end. Will the party have a skill issue and die in this massive confrontation they planned? Maybe. Odds are they probably will. BUT I trust them not to. They can be very keen strategists.

I hope you enjoyed this tale, I'll try to post these on occasion if things of note happen. Expect one for Dragonlance to be posted soon as the party is about to confront Dragon Emperor Ariakas at Sanction.

[memento-morri-writes]

Hi, Morri! How are you doing? Have you been working on any specific project lately? Have you read/watched/played anything interesting lately? Had any cool DnD sessions? Has something inspired your writing?

ROSE, HI!!!!!!! HOW ARE YOU? I HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL!!!! Have you watched or read anything interesting lately? Had anything inspire your writing? I hope school is going decently well!

Okay, sorry. Enough with the caps. I just have too much energy, lmao.

I'm doing good!! I survived another week of classes, so that's great. Now I don't have to worry about school until Monday. I do have a physics test next week, unfortunately. But at least after that we have Fall Break, and I get a 5-day weekend. (Friday-Tuesday.)

the rest of this is going under the cut, because I wrote an essay.

I haven't been working on much writing lately, so I've mostly been working on developing dnd characters. My one group is switching campaigns, so I needed to come up with a new character. She's a Fire Genasi Barbarian (path of the storm herald), and they're super badass. They fight with a quarterstaff instead of a regular barbarian weapon for uh... Secret Lore Reasons, and I love her dearly.

Last weekend I finally got my shit together and watched all three of the Lord of the Rings movies. My only regret is that I didn't watch the extended editions. :'( But that's a project for another time!!! Other than that, I've been slowly working my way through Baldur's Gate 3 and having a great time. I haven't done any reading recently, as I don't have any books with me and uni, but I have 3 or 4 books waiting for me when I go home for Fall Break, and two of them are written by people on writeblr!!!

DnD... where to begin... First off, all of my sessions are amazing and awesome, so it's hard to know where to start. But Rook has been starting to deal with his trauma regarding Captain Wolf, and the party has been pretty supportive! (There's a lot of trust issues going on right now, though, hahaha.) He got told about someone who beat Wolf in a duel, and he's determined to find him now. But that won't be for a WHILE yet. Our other campaign is getting ended and replaced, but Asola was having an interesting time. The party started interrogating her about her past. They meant well, and they wanted to help her get to the bottom of the whole "randomly started burning with holy light and then passed out" thing, but they ended up giving her a bit of an identity crisis by implying that she's not human and/or that her parents aren't actually her parents. (She isn't human, but her parents are actually her parents.) The 16 year-old ended up reading her mind, and seeing some of her most personal memories. Which led to the party having a very, very extended conversation with him about boundaries. (Sola told him that "No one deserves anything [just because they exist or say so]." talking about the fact that love and respect is something that people have to earn and deserve, not just be given by virtue of existing. I'd say for a girl with -1 wisdom, she's pretty wise.) We also found a magic flower that can reincarnate someone, and we put it in a rusty bucket, which we put inside our magic cat. (No, that's not a typo. I do mean cat.)

As for inspiring my writing, well, yeah. I'm always getting inspiration all the time. Karlach from bg3 was an unintentional inspiration for my new dnd character, Cyra. After watching LOTR, I'm eager to write some high-fantasy shenanigans. Playing DnD makes me more and more eager to someday write High Fantasy WIP, assuming that I can get it right.

[h2ohnotagain]

I started a tabletop game to connect with someone better while she was going through some changes and give her a world to explore and let loose in. The idea of the game was a weird concept, but I thought people had it and they promised me they were interested in it as I'd represented it. And then along the way complicated...stuff..happened between everyone and that someone, my wife, fell in love with other people I'd brought into the game and out of love with me. Friendships curdled. Ideas I'd formerly shared with my best friend (who also cut ties and emotions) ended up appropriated and weaponized against me as player and character. It was horrific. The entire situation destroyed my marriage and my very confidence in myself, in the idea of TTRPGs and the future in general...it ground into my mind that nothing lasts, no one keeps their promises, and no promise of love or friendship apparently survives me being who I am.

The game is still going. I'm not running it anymore, I'm playing in it. But I have lost so much from the beginning. Sometimes one of the other players, who I think doesn't realize how soul-crushing it is that the woman I love is in a relationship with him but not me, will go 'bro, you wrote that, how can you forget' and I clench my fists so hard I puncture the skin in bloody little crescents as I bite down the grief that wants to come tumbling out. That ideas for storylines got subsumed into nights of spiraling anxiety that people would tell me how terrible it was even though I'd literally invoked those sorts of themes from the beginning, that planning for future ideas or trying to remember past sessions became lost in her telling me how' mean' I was being to him by using literally a part of the same rules he looked forward to using, how she did this same 'mean' thing to OUR characters, previously hers and mine, now just hers to sacrifice to the storylines and relationships for everyone else, that the imagery and themes I based the game on 'weren't what I promised people' even though it was literally phrasing and word choice in the group contract from session zero, all of this leaving holes in literally who I am retroactively over the last decade as everything splintered around me because TTRPGS have been my love language to her from the beginning...

"I'm just tired."

[poemsofthecasuallyinsane]

The Cost of Schizophrenia

All of the things that I miss

All of the moments of beauty

While I'm stuck inside the chaotic pinball machine of my mind

All of the moments that- in my suffering

I sat inside, struggling to feel myself

Through this mixed up sea of perception

Feeling that my capacity was minimal, that my competence was nill

How can I do anything worth while? Anything productive? Anything

Meaningful

With this layer of internal

Suicide

Moving through me?

Robbing me of all the meaningful moments of simple

Pleasures

All of the dog walks I opted out of

The training sessions I could have done

For the shear joy of it

All of the coffee's on the porch I feared- instead staying inside

Sinking deeper into the couch

Hiding under the blanket

Placating my mind with some reasonably pg-ish show

Where I felt it was safe

And yet

Like a tiger, used to his cage and captor, there wasn't truly safety there

Just coping

Trying to reach a quiet sigh (afraid, if heard, I'd be humiliated in the process)

To let it go (asked what took me so long)

Or to let The Universe in

Sometimes I don't know which is which

All of those moments I missed

As fear of humans spread to fear of the Universe itself

All of those human-less moments I missed

The bugs and the birds and the bees outside

All of the opportunities to train with my service dog

To increase the depth and pleasure of our bond

Moments of play with the dogs I care for

Poems I could have written

Drawings, Paintings I could have made

Things I could have learned

Coloring pages I could have filled in

Experiences, experiences I could have had

I don't know if I'm supposed to just wait

Until it passes

Or if I'm supposed to

Firmly insist

In these small activities- one little one at a time

Until I feel better

But I have enough self awareness to know

That what I'm suffering is lack of connection to myself

Excluding everything external

The me inside

I feel, often, vacant

As many parts as I may have

I feel less like a surfer or a swimmer

And more like

Someone… ready for the waves to take them

It isn't healthy, it isn't helpful, I know

But I've forgotten who, exactly, I'm fighting for

And also… Why the fuck does it feel like fighting?

What happened to the pretty views, the pleasurable feelings?

The joy of riding the waves?

The pleasure of the sea of trees passing me as I drive down the highway,

The wind kissing my face?

Awaiting the moment something grabs my attention in that special,

Numinous

Way?

Where has our romance gone?

Why has everything seemed like a fight recently?

Sitting alone in a room and it's

A fight

And I'm loosing

Masterbating and suddenly

It's a fight

And I'm loosing

Being violated

Humiliated

Abused

Preyed upon

I pull up my journal and suddenly

It's a fight

It's a partial victory

Words reach the page.

But not the golden ones I seek.

The ones that ring with my heart- the ones that hold me.

The ones that tell me "ah, I wrote that".

But a victory because no longer do I think something is spying on me

From behind my eyes

So I write something

I'm with my friend and it's

A fight

A partial victory

I'm able to spend time with him

As a wounded helpless creature

The wounded parts jump out- he's happy to help

And I worry for him

Afraid he'll give too much or that my bucket has no bottom, anyways

Or I worry for him in the same way that one worries about an insect

Stepping into a tunnel spider's web

Distrusting of my own intentions and goodness (thanks to the impressions others have

So generously given me of myself- I didn't even have to ask for this graceful feedback)

Even as he tells me that

I am good

Confusingly, I also know that I am good

The pinball fog distorts it all- words of those that don't know me carry more weight than they should

Or as I feel I'm not allowed to bring

My very human divinity in full form

To the table to be witnessed

By him

Or is it exactly that divinity that he's seeing?

Dancing within the weeds of my illness?

I feel the self-betrayal as it is born around my friend.

As I feel myself yearning for his

Approval, and simultaneously disregarding my own

The uncomfortable, fearful feeling of

Leaving myself while

In the company of another.

Perhaps that's why

I fear being around people.

Even as I've done the same thing while being

Alone.

You see, I realized, I'm a people.

Therefore, I too, am dangerous to myself.

Showing my full self to another is seen as… dangerous…

Not allowed

Not allowed to even know my full self while I'm alone

Because some part of me has decided

I can't handle it

That is the curious argument

But why?

Even as the lack of myself feels like a one way

Trip to suicide

And why is it that

I meet a new person and it's a

Calculation

Which parts can come out?

Why not…

Bring myself to the table.

Just… here I am.

There is no "I decided these parts get along well with you" it's

"I am here"

With all of my 57 leashes

With various parts at the end of each

Loving

Leash.

I think the most devious thing

My brain has ever done

Is to convince me

That there's someone in my head listening

That isn't me

To convince me that the "me"

I'm talking about it

Is

Somehow

Not

The universe

Itself.

[yourgamemasterthewhiterabbit]

Oh windows is pulling some BULLSHIT

I paid for windows 10 because I wanted to makes sure anything I might use for game development was bought and paid for, and they've been annoying the fuck out of me with forcing updates when I said not to and re-installing windows apps and services I uninstalled or disabled, etc... Basically windows is acting like it's natively full of spyware and bloatware... but anyway

I wake up this morning to my computer going "remember how I just updated even though you told me not to? well haha it was to give you this message that windows 10 isn't going to be supported anymore come 2025 and also you don't get to upgrade to the next version even though you paid for it, haha sorry :) here's what we think you should do after paying to have windows again because we decided to switch versions, haha"

... SO YEAH, linux then, and I guess if I need to test games on windows I'll be doing it with a virtual machine running some modified windows 10 with this key I paid for IG...

Because the fucking reason I wasn't using linux is because if I got on my computer expecting to just have a chill time and suddenly something wouldn't work for me I would be so pissed I'd have no ability in that moment to fix it rather than just feeling like I was going to have an aneurysm, But then windows kept eating all my resources with background processes to the point where I would randomly suddenly not be able to play a particular game ever again even on a new file, or where I suddenly couldn't watch a video.

Last time I couldn't even watch x-files from my own hard drive the background processes responsible were some remote access shit [Which I have turned off], some windows problem reporting service, and hey I noticed edge was back and using up resources after I uninstalled it 3 times. And then when I shut down the remote procedure, which should only be necessary to run a program off another computer in my network [there is no network I live alone] it decided windows itself couldn't run without it and shut down, but also decided to update, even though I had it set not to.

This whole "I come on here to play a game or watch a video and chill and it is suddenly not fucking working"... Is why I was avoiding Linux for daily use. Because I didn't want to have to be tech savvy on my off hours.

But now it's doing that and also insisting on running 500 background nonsense that is not fucking needed at the physical expense of damaging my hardware, and at the expense to me of keeping me from being able to play games... At first raft got to be too much and I wrote it off as being because of all my building and the sprites, okay, but then sons of the forest was fine one gaming session and then the next day was so choppy I had to just restart it, and then just wouldn't start up again without absolutely crashing my whole system... nothing changed IN THE GAME between these days, it wasn't a slow run down as I kept building more like it was with raft, it just stopped functioning all of a sudden.

And then I go to fix a problem and windows has made it so you can't, or turns services back on that you told it not to run, or re-installs edge on you repeatedly after you keep removing it...

Like no, windows, I did not give you my fucking money so you could use my hardware for your own purposes while feeding me moldy breadcrumbs of my own fucking hardware use.

And you might be thinking "This sounds like you have a virus or some serious malware D:" but no... No I am pretty damn certain this is just windows now.

To windows "user friendly" was always synonymous with "remove user access", then "remove user control", and now finally "User obtuse" because in their minds the system is theirs and you are just using it.

To me "user friendly" means I am allowed access to the machines inner thoughts so we can communicate without our corporate overlords needing to approve.

[natswritingz]

Sexting next door / Sam x Reader

Note : This is my first fic in I don’t know how long, I tried my hardest so I really hope at least someone can enjoy this lol, also might be typos!

Words : 2.4k

Warnings : Sexting, exchanging pictures, dirty dirty talking, talk of oral/penetration/dry humping, swearing, lots of stuff.

The last week had been occupied with a hunt which ended with the three of you searching the woods for an old cemetery, laying all the buried souls to rest. Working with the Winchesters made the gigs easier. You found some joy in their presence, especially around Sammy.

You guys obviously had crushed on eachother, Sammy made the most moves while you took them as innocent jokes. You just didn't want to complicate anything for anyone.

You all had just got back to the motel, while the brothers shared a room like always, you got your own right next door. Your phone sat next to you as you pried off your dirt caked boots, hidden graveyards were something else. The device chimed with Sams assigned ringtone, you grabbed it in eagerness.

"You get settled in?"

You smiled at the text, he knew how to make you feel special even if it's a simple check in. You struggled with a response that sounded natural, typing then deleting, you finally wrote one and went with it.

"Yeah, just got the boots off lol"

"Are you getting anything good on the tv?"

"Nope, nothing"

That was a lie, you haven't even looked at the tv yet, but he didn't know that. You began unbuttoning your grimy top, feeling the cool air nip at your skin while the material still hung on your shoulders. You bit your lip as you typed another text to follow your previous one.

"Finally getting out of these clothes too"

You locked your phone quickly with embarrassment, you couldn't believe what you just sent. He was your friend, but the entire day he had been constantly flirting which made the temptation even harder to resist. The phone chimed after what felt like ages.

"Me too, I was able to get the shower first"

You read the text through squinted eyes, terrified to read his response with fully opened eyes. Your mind trailed to the image of him without anything on, the warm water running down his toned body, it made your heart race.

"Just about to get in"

You nervously pulled at your lip while intently watching the screen.

"Maybe I should hop in too, hot water sounds amazing right now"

"Do it, I'll keep you company ;)"

The wink confirmed it. He was leaving an opening for you to accept or decline before pursuing anything more.

"I'm taking off my clothes right now, what are you doing?"

"Turning the shower on, already undressed"

"I wish I could see that"

He opened it and hasn't responded in a while, you completely fucked it up. You cursed at yourself before seeing the tiny text bubble come up and disappear a few times until one finally came in.

"I wish I could see you take off those jeans, I could not stop staring at your ass today. All I wanted to do was pounce on you, you've been all I could think of."

You gulped at his message, this was would be your first time sexting, you were already loving it. You felt yourself getting excited at his message, reading it over and over. You pulled your shirt off the rest of the way.

"You were looking? That's very unprofessional of you, Sammy. If only I knew, I would've been 'accidentally' grinding against you all day."

Both of your tones suddenly changed, it wasn't the laid back no-period texts you normally exchanged, it was dirty and intriguing. You couldn't wait for him to respond.

"If you had done that, I don't think I would've been able to control myself."

"What would you have done? I would've loved to feel you press against my ass, I'm clenching my thighs just thinking about it."

"I would've pulled you into the nearest room and commanded you to grind against me until you came in your pretty panties."

You groaned at the thought, Sammy made dry humping sound hot, he could probably make any sexual act sound compelling.

"How do you know what panties I wear?"

You found yourself completely wrapped in texting back and forth you forgot about your plans to shower. Deciding to get comfortable, you leaned back onto the comforter. You were invested in where this was going, a shower could wait, unlike this.

"I've done your laundry and seen you in your undergarments before. I think I pretty much know everything about you, Y/N."

"I'm imaging my lace covered pussy grinding against your bulge covered by your boxers. It would feel so good to have you rub against me. I'd be soaking through my panties you could definitely see it dampening both our cloths."

You wanted to get dirtier so you tested the water, you wrote the first thing you thought of. It may have been a little too forward but your lust clouded all rational thinking.

"Jesus. My imagination might not be doing this scenario justice, I think we'd have to try it out next time we see eachother."

The elation in you grew with each suggestion.

"And when will that be?"

"If you keep it up, soon. Have you stripped yet?"

Sam was a great dom, he wanted everything to be in his control and you couldn't help but like it. You could trust him with control.

"I've been so busy with our little daydreams, I forgot I was even going to shower. Laying in bed still partially clothed."

"Take your pants off now, then give your ass a nice spank for me. Make it sting."

You followed his orders, placing the phone to your side as you lifted your hips to remove the jeans. You held the phone again as you flipped, now laying on your stomach, you used your free hand to rub on your cheek before giving it a sharp smack.

"Both are done, I'm thinking this might leave a mark?"

You raised your phone in a rush of confidence, snapping a photo of your ass and the handprint that reddened with time, attaching it to your message, and sending it without any hesitation. The mark was not as big as Sam could do and you dearly wished it was his hand instead.

"Fucking hell Y/N, I was not expecting that. You're making me want to come over right now to fuck you senseless."

"What do I do next? Still have my panties and bra on."

"Take your bra off baby girl, play with your nipples till they're both hard. Pinch them, flick them, be rough with it."

It was easy for you to follow his words, you found yourself loving his demands and dominance, you could keep following them for hours. You held yourself up with an elbow, you pinched the tip hard between your fingertips, rolling them slightly for more stimulation. You moaned with each uncoordinated flick.

"They're feeling so sensitive now."

You attached another picture, your tits in frame with your now erect and red nipples. After his reaction with the last one, you wanted to get more from him.

"So so perfect. Picture I'm there, sucking and biting on them. My warm breath fanning your soft skin. I want to make you feel good."

"You're making me feel good right now, I can't believe we're actually doing this."

"We can stop whenever you get uncomfortable, I want you to be good with all of this."

His message made you smile through the lust, he really did care about you. It wasn't the most ideal timing, but you could easily get worked back up again with his skills.

"Sorry, never wanna stop this <3"

You shook your head with a small laugh as you flirted.

"Good, me neither. You still have your panties on like a good girl?"

"Haven't taken them off yet, you haven't told me to."

"Sounds like someone's enjoying being bossed around, huh? What if I told you to suck me off, would you do it?"

"I'd let you throat fuck me. I want to gasp for my breath when you finally pull from my mouth."

"Your lips look perfect for my cock, I want to see them wrapped around me as I thrust into your mouth."

"I want you to be as rough as you can, Sammy."

You flipped over to your back once again, your hand dipping into your undies, rubbing soft circles over your clit as you awaited another message. You wanted to invite him over that instant but you had to resist the urge, sexting was fun and a good first step for the two of you.

"I've finally entered the shower, I'm stroking myself to the pictures you sent me. Kinda hard keeping the phone dry."

You laughed a little to yourself at the end of his message.

"Your turn?"

Not that your heart hadn't been pounding the entire time, your recent text made it even faster. You bit your lip in anticipation, you couldn't lie to yourself, you've always wondered what he was packing. And just like that, you revived a picture. Your jaw clenched at his size and width, you weren't entirely sure you'd be able to fit him if you ever got to doing this stuff in person. It was hot and impressive.

"How am I going to fit all of you? I don't think any amount of wetness would prepare me for you."

"We'll make it fit princess, I wanna see your warm pussy stretch around me. Fuuuck, I want you so bad Y/N."

"I want you bad too, maybe our next session can be face to face. I can't imagine how you'll make me feel when I have your hands on me instead of my own."

"You touching yourself right now? I don't remember telling you to stop playing with your tits."

"I couldn't take it anymore, I was aching for some relief."

That was true, your pussy throbbed for attention to the point it hurt to not touch yourself. No one else had this affect over you, making you soak through your lace like nothing.

"Fine, you can touch yourself as long as you don't cum until I allow you, and take it easy, I want you to enjoy this."

"Yes, Sammy."

You slowed down, rubbing slow circles on your aroused clit. Everything was heightened and sensitive, what was he doing to you?

"I'm touching myself, paced instead of rushed. I wish this was your hand. Not gonna lie, I constantly think of how good your large hands would feel on my body."

"Where?"

His response was immediate after he quickly read your message, considering what he told you just a little ago, you knew he was getting off to your little conversation.

"On my ass, in my pussy, around my throat. Even you holding my hands above my head or behind my back sounds like a pleasure. I want you to touch and explore every part of me."

The typing bubble appeared just as it did when he responded to every other text, this time you cut off his response with another one of your own, you wanted to get him really worked up.

"For future reference, I'd probably cum instantly with your tongue on my clit and your fingers in me as deep as they'd go."

You weren't a newbie when it came to sex, you knew what you wanted in the bedroom. Being a hunter and constantly hopping town to town, you had your occasional one night stand to release the stress that came with your job.

"Oh really? You want me buried in you while tasting you all at once? I can do that for you princess, I've been wanting to taste you. I'd eat you out till you came on my tongue then I'd make you kiss me, deep."

"You already know I'd return the favor."

You referred back to your message you sent not long ago about going down on him.

"We haven't even talked about getting to the main act and you've got me almost cumming. I had to slow my pace in order to not finish."

You smirked at his reply, biting your lip with a small groan as you still touched yourself. You were hoping you had the same effect on him that he had on you.

"Let's get onto the main act then. How'd you want to fuck me?"

"I can think of a few ways... But I most definitely want to see myself slide in and out of you. I want to enjoy every bit."

"Maybe my hands holding onto the back of my thighs while laying on my back? Everything would be on display."

"I could put your legs up on my shoulders and get really deep in you. Wouldn't that feel good?"

"I'd be seeing stars. And I would not be able to walk afterwards. Feeling you brush against my cervix repeatedly with your big cock, you're gonna fill me so good."

"Y/N you're gonna make me cum. Speed up."

With his permission, you started to rub faster. You moaned loudly, forgetting about anyone else in the seedy motel.

"Fuck, keep moaning."

You blushed in embarrassment, he could hear you from their rooms bathroom which definitely meant Dean could hear you, the strangers on the opposite side didn't concern you. You allowed yourself to moan with each lap, not holding back the cries. You went on for a minute before diverting your attention back to the phone.

"Imagine how much louder I'd be with you inside me."

"I've been thinking about all the noises you'd be making the entire time. You sound so hot. Are you close?"

"Yeah Sammy, I'm almost there."

Your breathing pattern became rapid and harsh, small wines escaping your lips as you played yourself to perfection.

"Beg for permission to cum."

You groaned at his response.

"Please let me cum, please Sam, I'm not sure I can hold it."

It was hard enough holding back your release but even harder to beg with one hand.

"You can cum baby, just cause you've been so good."

Your body released the tension, the relief rolling in as you came in your panties, finally. It hit you hard, your hips shaking as you moaned louder than earlier. You couldn't deny it, you never orgasmed like that when you were doing it solo.

"I couldn't help but finish to your moans"

His response was like his usual ones, not so formal and more playful. You could get used to seeing both sides regularly.

"We should do this more often, or try it in person, either one"

"I am 100% on board with that"

If for some reason you wanna be notified when I post a new fic, leave a comment to be tagged and your username will go here!

[intoevernightfanfic]

Happy 1st birthday to the Arranged Marriage Series!

In honor of AM's birthday, here are 15 "behind the scenes" facts!

1. When I began writing AM, I had no intention of posting it. Ever. Or even letting anyone see it at all. It was 100% for myself.

2. What changed my mind? I was participating in a group meditation session, and when we shared our experiences afterward, I mentioned that community was one of my core values. That was when it hit me -- I wasn't contributing to the community! Within the next hour, I'd posted the first 3 chapters of Arranged Marriage on AO3.

3. I wrote all 2 million+ words in one go between August 2020 and March 2021.

4. Originally, the fic wasn't meant to be that long. I had a handful of ideas and scenes I wanted to work in, and it kept growing. I knew I was in trouble when I was at chapter 35 and it was still the beginning of the story.

5. As I posted part 1, I added 10 extra chapters. Sometimes I do it based on requests or wishes from readers, sometimes I do it because I want to add a better segue or there's something I missed.

6. I created my concept of Takamagahara before I'd even heard of Noragami. I learned about it from folklore and pulled the rest from my imagination. A lot of the imagery came from what I imagined the "house in the sky" would look like -- a place I invented as a kid whenever I'd see the sunset playing on large cumulus clouds.

7. While writing, I'd do a lot of research into Japanese folklore and Shinto. In addition to the canon universe, I tried to incorporate new elements based on folklore as well. Uncanny Japan was a favorite podcast of mine during this time.

8. I spent a lot of time on Google maps or on travel websites. Not just to plan their trips, but also to base the settings in the story on real life places in Kawagoe, Kyoto, and Hokkaido.

9. My sister knew whenever I had the manga lying out on the table with tabs in the pages what subject matter or arc I was writing about.

10. You may notice that I exchange terms from the anime and the manga (i.e., familiar vs. shinshi). Why? No reason at all. :P

11. When writing touchier subject matter, including the current arc in Arranged Marriage: 'Til Death Do Us Part, I consulted with a psychologist as well as did research online regarding PTSD and coping. I filled out checklists for both Tomoe and Nanami to keep it straight.

12. There are two past arcs in the entire series and I'm very proud of them both.

13. There is actually a full circle. While it may not always be apparent how the arcs play into the story as a whole, they have something to do with not only the outcome, but the reason the story exists in the first place.

14. Since this was my first KH fic and I began writing it before I'd finished the manga, I've had a hard time editing. I've had to cut, change, and add things. I've actually added a lot of content in part 1 alone.

15. I pulled a lot of Tomoe's feelings from my own experience of being homeschooled. It wasn't as extreme as his, but it was very miserable and isolating. So I empathize with him quite a bit.

[tristancreed]

My Relationship With Tattoos

Art as we know it comes in any medium. It could be a portrait, a scuplture, a dish, a film or even a fighting style. The canvas and the medium may change, but one thing remains constant. It represents something. One's feelings, identity, code, maybe even culture. Tattoos are not far from this. They are pieces of art etched on a living canvas. Just like any piece of art can be viewed differently by the artist, the wearer as well as the mere spectator. The same perception could also be rooted from a personal interpretation/bias, cultural influence, and etc.

The Philippines, while still attempting to develop have yet to change its view on tattooing. To some, it is in fact seen at an artistic light whereas most view them with negative connotations. Some even view tattooed individuals as nothing but bottom dwellers, drug addicts, criminals, anything synonymous with the word undesirable. We even have a senator that says exactly these words about tattooed individuals, as do most conservative folks. Which is ironic considering that tattoos once played a significant role in the pre-colonial history. It often dsiplayed one's role, accomplishments, clan, and even social status. One of our most well-reputed national artists happen to be Whang-Od. To the uninitiated, she is currently the last living traditional tattoo artist around these parts. She is well sought out by visitors both domestic and foreign. In all sincerity, I'd like to see that senator try and publicly call her a drug addict to her face. Like I said, The Philippines has yet to be anywhere near ready to adapt to a modern society. And with it, more progressive views.

(Image is courtesy of La Blouse Roumaine ©)

I for one had a neutral stance on them. I should know, I have four of them and have gone through five sessions all in all. But before that, I remember wanting to get one as far as when I was in college and even intending to get two particular pieces. One being WWE Superstar Edge's Rise Above wrist piece and Toryn Green's sinner and saint ambigram. This what happens when you grow up being a fan of hard rock music, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. Although what kept me from getting tattooed was the fear of being an ineligible blood donor, as well as the fear of being unemployable in the future.

That however changed after I graduated. Turns out, most corporate environments won't even bat an eye at an upper management figure sporting full sleeves and stretched earlobes. Others may not be as lenient. But it hardly impacted how they're received in the company.  I even had a chance to get a session done in 2013 but it kept falling apart.

It didn't cross my mind until 2017 and that's that I finally decided to go for it. I remembered seeing a simple but perfectly symmetrical geometric arrow design. The design was perfect. I also happen to love archery. So I literally had no other issue with it. I later ended up getting referred by my cousin to her artist who did her wrist piece months prior. The three weeks leading up to that session, I let my folks know in advance that I am getting a tattoo. I didn't wait for their approval or anything. I made it clear that I’m getting inked. Furthermore, I’d like to point out that I am a regular subscriber to Aaron Marino’s YouTube Channel (you may know him as Alpha M). I then took some crucial tips regarding tattoos. I had the certainty down as long as I follow one crucial tip. You have a whole sea of skin all over you. So out of all that, just avoid having one on your hands, neck, and face. If you can hide it with a dress shirt, it’s completely fine. 

On the day of my appointment, I literally just slapped on a sleeveless Avenged Sevenfold cut-off top, some shorts, with only my phone and wallet in hand before heading out for my session. It happened in a small studio just next to a small school in Pacita. Fortunately, I got there in time and I happened to be his only scheduled client for the day. What happened next was pivotal. I literally watched as the needle first touched my skin and slowly covered my birthmark. The session itself took over five hours. And what turned out to be the final product was an entirely different design. One which was inspired by the concept I sent, but also deviated from it. My parents despite having already been warned in advance were still initially shocked by it. They didn’t think I was actually going ahead with it. So this is the part where I retroactively followed what Jaiden Dittfach (of Jaiden Animations) said when she got her bird Ari. If you want really want something and your parents said no, get it anyway and trick them into loving it. Now that it’s on my skin, there really wasn’t much they could do about it. But at least they know its meaning and that it isn’t anything negative. I did have some issues with the product though and it took three more years before I finally got it fixed. For good this time. At least before the pandemic happened and it was done by a trusted friend. In her defense, she made the best of what she could work with then and even remarked how deep the first needle went. Fortunately, she managed to even out some places that needed to be polished.

The intended design (Image is courtesy of The Style Up ©)

The (first) finished product.

Finally fixed. 

In between all of this, I also managed to get three more pieces. It was November 12, 2018, a news shocked Marvel fans the world over. Stan Lee tragically passed away just six weeks shy of what would have been his 96th birthday. It was such a devastating loss of a figure who helped mold the childhoods of many. I wrote about it and posted it here shortly after. During those events, I remembered having come across the Wakandan alphabet before it hit me. But first, I had to consult a few friends in order to make sure that I wouldn’t be committing any act of cultural appropriation. After finally clearing that up, I sent my own design to a friend of mine (Who went on to do all of my ink from that point on) and booked the session. Thanksgiving day later came and I realized that we had no work that day. So I later called her up to see if she was free. Fortunately, she was and I finally had it etched on my right forearm. It was the Latin word “Excelsior” that literally translates to ever upward. It was also Stan’s catchphrase. The feeling of getting that piece was a lot more different than the previous one. This came with a wave of emotion. Because the significance could even be traced from my childhood and I grew up around this fandom and it meant more to me than just entertainment. It helped shape part of my identity. It’s literally the one piece I wish I could have flashed on a camera next to Stan himself. One thing’s for sure both Stan Lee and Chadwick Boseman would have thought it was a wise choice for a piece of ink on one’s skin. 

“Excelsior”

- Stan Lee

Upon having gone through a tattoo session, you can only describe the feel of a needle as a sting. But you wouldn’t exactly call it pain. That isn’t an opinion, that is a fact. Another thing one must know upon getting a tattoo is that you will later want additional pieces. Your skin will want the feel of that needle again. And while my parents said that would be my last piece, I simply couldn’t promise that. This time around, I’ve been looking to get a Cthulhu tattoo since December 2018. Of course, being busy as always, I couldn’t find a time to arrange it. I would only do so once I’m sure I’m completely free for that day. I live two lives. Both as a corporate guy and a public figure. Spare time and sleep are luxuries I can’t always afford. And after all the planning, I finally booked it. I literally went to my friend’s place right away to have it done. The session was of reasonable length and it felt different. Both of my previous tattoos were done on my right forearm. Both of which had uplifting personal meanings. A darker piece like that would be completely out of place in that part of my body. So I opted for my left bicep. It was surreal. I’m a man invested into multiple fandoms and H.P. Lovecraft’s universe is definitely in that list. There’s just something about the occult and the unknown horrors of the cosmos that piqued my interest since my formative years. This was me finally marking that on my skin. If there’s one of Lovecraft’s most iconic creations that deserved that spot, it was the famed Dreamer of R’lyeh himself. If the excelsior tattoo gave a rush of innocence that I hadn’t felt in ages, this was different. It had that enigmatic aura around it which made it all the more perfect. The piece came together so well and it was on an arm that a needle had yet to kiss. After the session, you could say I probably found out how the Sam Raimi Peter Parker felt when he first put on the black symbiote suit. Minus the dance when he exited that tailor shop. I also ended up getting a freehand bonus on my right wrist again. Just something Roxy threw in. It was the Latin phrase “Sic Parvis Magna.” which literally translates to “Thus great things come from small things.” or better yet, greatness from small beginnings. Which is another phrase I hold dear considering my humble origins.

“Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn”

“In his house at R’lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.”

“Thus great things come from small things.”

That certainly wouldn’t be the end of it. Again, while my folks insisted that I got my last pieces, I still can’t promise that. One thing’s for sure, I wouldn’t get any piece that either stands for something that abridges the rights of another human being, nor would any of my upcoming pieces ever wrongly appropriate a culture. Ultimately, I would always advise everyone to at least take Aaron Marino’s advise to heart. Don’t get one that you wouldn’t want to show your folks. You also have a whole sea of skin around you, so avoid having one on your hands, neck and face. I’m definitely not done stepping next to a needle. I still have plans on some pieces. But I always see to their significance. It’s always wise to do exactly that. Getting a tattoo isn’t a joke. It’s a commitment. One that can even outlive a marriage. So it pays to take every choice into consideration. Some of us choose to wear our hearts on our sleeve and some do so literally.

[yeats-infection]

if you have time & you don't mind, i'd love to read an explanation of graham coxon & damon albarn's relationship like the one you wrote on bradford & lockett a while ago ... started listening to blur from your reblogs & i love their music, but i don't know much about their relationship or the band in general or really any of the context surrounding their songs. all your tags have me so INTRIGUED. don't worry if this is a big ask; & i hope the new yr is treating you well!

thank you for asking anon. i hope i can do this medium justice. i could say many of the same things i said in my deerhunter post! their partnership and friendship is the core of the band and is why they are the band they are and why they’re so good! they are proof that friendship is the most powerful force in the world! 

putting this behind a cut because i got carried away. this also became a primer on Why I Love Blur and Why I Think They Are Special. but i feel like this isn’t even the half of how i feel.

something i would do if you have a free day and feel like torturing yourself is read all the blur interviews from the nineties that are scanned and linked here (bless the people who operate this website). the more contemporary ones from after their reunion are usually very charming. the ones from 1999-2002 are invariably Extraordinarily Sad. the ones from 1995-8 are often Borderline Journalistically Irresponsible. and the ones from before 1995 run the gamut from hysterically funny to guaranteed to fill you with extreme concern for the mental health of everybody involved. 

here is one of my favorites of those interviews which goes into the story behind every song they had released until 1995. made me appreciate a lot of the leisure demos even more

here they are in an interview in 1994.... why don’t music magazines do a “best friends” issue anymore ( / why are there no music magazines anymore)... this is one of the first interviews i read with them and it picked up a piece of my brain and moved it. there is... so much in here... 

this is my other favorite, from 1996... though it is kind of painful to read in many ways and is indicative of an Extremely Bad Time... 

the Long Story Short (ish): they were childhood friends and started playing music together before they were teenagers, damon moved to london to be with graham who was at art school, they started the band which became blur with alex and dave. they started off sounding like the stone roses’ “fools gold” because that was the Sound of the Moment. they then pivoted their entire sound and vibe for almost every album. it is the constant pivoting i think that makes them such a mind-boggling band to me. it’s amazing when any artist reinvents their sound and tries something new because it is such an incredibly risky thing to do. it’s basically unimaginable to me that they did this multiple times in incredibly severe degrees as one of the biggest pop bands in the world whose sound was already kind of a weirdo outlier. and they did much of the pivoting so that they wouldn’t be pigeonholed, and so they could stay true to themselves and each other. like, WHO in our modern musical atmosphere would go from an album with this song on it to ONE YEAR LATER an album with this song on it????? 

ANYWAY: 

pivot #1 was to become Violently British in response to disastrously touring america around the explosion of grunge, following which they made modern life is rubbish even as their label told them it would be “artistic suicide” 

pivot #2 was when they made parklife and invented britpop. this album was a Big Deal. they literally created an entire genre and scene and vibe to fit what they were doing and then wrecked it. 

[ they did not pivot on the great escape which is a much maligned album but which has some truly Great Songs. the first single from this album is “country house” which was the subject of a press-manufactured chart battle with “roll with it” by oasis, which became “the battle of britpop” which in itself is was a kind of proxy standoff about class and the kind of north/south tension i am not qualified to discuss as an american. “country house” made it to #1 and graham showed up extremely distraught at damon’s soccer game to tell him and then later that night at a party tried to jump out a window. they hated being famous and had gotten really tired of making and playing “chirpy songs” when it wasn’t how they were feeling. graham wrote a letter to damon telling him that he wanted to make music “to scare people again.” HENCE: ]

pivot #3 is for the s/t in which you can literally feel the sensation of damon getting into pavement so that graham won’t leave the band. my favorite blur song maybe is “country sad ballad man” which has extreme pavement energy. the guitar under the vocal is insane alchemic perfection. also very meta in that it’s about being a washed up rock star. here’s the dumbest and most charming video from this album. 

pivot #4 is to truly cosmic territory in the form of 13. nothing else like this record exists. we all can only aspire to making something like this record. i will disclose that i don’t like “tender,” the first song and single which is in itself a kind of shocking pivot in its emotional nakedness. “1992″ is where it’s at for me... which was a demo from the year 1992 (modern life is rubbish sessions) that they rediscovered and remade... the guitar ascending at 1:50... this album is nominally about damon’s longtime girlfriend leaving him and i think you can catch that lyrically but the push/pull of all the vocal and guitar... it’s all these kind of painful warring duets. they couldn’t work together anymore! they wanted extraordinarily different things which could barely coexist. so damon wrote their second full album of “please don’t leave me” and graham ripped all the songs to shreds. the other night i got teary listening to the instrumental outro, “optigan 1.” 

[ i haven’t listened to think tank because graham only plays on one song (which i have listened to, “battery in your leg,” apex of suffering, 45 seconds in, do you ever disintegrate) and because whenever i like a band a lot i can’t bring myself to “finish” their catalog. graham left the band during recording sessions because he had gotten sober and couldn’t fake it anymore. during the many years in which they did not speak, they went to each other’s solo performances to watch each other secretly. ] 

now they are friends again! they made the magic whip in 2015, which was another pivot in itself. 

the amazing thing i think, to get back to the question you initially asked me which i have totally strayed from, is that damon has the absolute pop magic and graham can’t let it be... he has to make it more difficult and challenging and knotty and loud. they need each other because they challenge each other to be better musicians. the songs when you can really hear the tension are totally electrifying and are their best work. it’s the dynamic between their different visions of what they wanted the band to be, the push-pull and the wrestling, that make it all so interesting to listen to...

and that’s my novel on the subject (for now). i’m tagging @piovascosimo to make sure i got everything... beta is the expert who has been a fan since 2002; you might want to follow her. 

[jackieswift]

11 months since I hugged Taylor Swift ❤😭😍👭

And I DIED!! I miss you babeee 😘 I hope you have a wonderful day and that you take care of yourself ❤ So much have happened the last 11 months and I wish I could tell you everything. I can't, but here's a short list for you:

• I had the worst day on October 27th since it was the one year anniversary, but I thought of your words and it helped me so much.

• I told both of my parents about what he did against me. And it was because of your trial I did that + meeting you because after I met you I felt like I could do anything.

• I flied to London with Felicia to watch you perform on the Jingle Bell Ball. We were so proud and te happiness when you during Blank Space saw our signs can't even be described with words. And when you later on liked the picture Felicia's boyfriend had taken of us with the signs we died!!

• I performed in front of my whole school when we got our winter break (we have this winter graduation thing in Sweden) and I dared going up there in front of everyone and play them the song I wrote about your brother, lol.

• I colored my hair pink. Okay only a little bit of the hair and only with color that lasted for two weeks, but still it was so crazy for me.

• I celebrated Valentine's Day with my best friends and sang my heart out when Gorgeous came on at the restaurant.

• My Indian friend Arushi stayed with me for 9 days. Since I left her one day early to go to the Secret Session the time we got together in April meant a lot. And she wanted to know everything about you since you adore you.

• When the Indian's were in Sweden I performed Happier with my friend Mia. I thought of you the whole time before going up on the stage. I thought of what you told me when I asked you about your best songwriter tips. I would not write a song, but your words still helped me in that situation.

• I was in this debate competition. A lot of people told me they thought I was so good. So because of that I decided to join a political party (since I've always been intrested in politics and have followed everything since I was 5). So because of that I met our prime minister this Sunday (on the Election Day).

• I graduated from high school!! I can finally say that I'm free from him. Otherwise I miss school really much! And I performed that day in front of everyone too.

• I did this interview with Swedish television about criminology (sine I read criminology in high school). I talked about Criminal Minds...but it was my first big interview so yeay for me.

• I traveled to London with my mother to watch you perform. And you KILLED it! And that trip made my mother in to a really big fan apparently because now she listen to your music the whole time. This week she came home and was like "The song Taylor wrote for her mother is adorable, I love it so much. The best day, right? I like listening to that song and watch the music video and think about the relationship you and I have" like aww.

• I traveled to Nashville and had the best 11 days of my life (Okay October 13th 2017 was the best because it's our day and then I think June 22nd 2016 was the second best since I spent the day on Disney World with my family and it was magical, but after that the Nashville trip comes). Nashville is so beautiful! I'd love to move there one day. I didn't get to perform at The Bluebird Cafe on my 19th birthday which was heartbreaking, but I performed in a guitar store. And he told me you have been in that store and that I reminded him of you so much. And yeah I got to hear that I look like you at least one time every day. On my birthday it was five times I think. And people even took pictures of me so my friend and I joked about us ending up on a newspaper. We didn't #SadMoment haha. So if you're sick or what ever you can just call me because apparently I can look like you (I totally can't, they were just too nice).

• I said I joined a politician party. But I didn't say that I met my Prince Charming on a meeting last Wednesday. He loves you and his favorite song is Enchanted. So if we ever get married it would mean the world to both of us if you could come and play that song on our wedding, but since he has a girlfriend and I sing "please don't be in love with someone else" 24/7 it might not happen.

Now you know pretty much everything. I love you! I hope you have a wonderful time touring. You mean the world to me and you inspire me every day. Not a day goes by without me thinking back to the day we spent together. I love you more than words can describe ❤

[incorrectdeceptionquotes]

Could you please write 2 or\and 24? All though I'd read any of them...

[Sings] Prompt hat!Prompt hat! I’m gonna check the prompt hat! Linus! [Linus brings the prompthat.] Thank you Linus, today’s numbers are… #2 – “Have you lost your damnmind!?”and… #24 – “You’re the only one I trust to do this.”

“You’re the only one I trust to do this.” Kay said with herempty hands in the air as the perp held a gun to her head, “Cameron, just walkaway with the evidence. I’ll be fine” The team had planned a deception in orderto get a killer to confess and hand over the evidence had gone south. Theyhadn’t known that this deli shop owner was packing more than just meat.

Kay might have been wearing her bulletproof vest but thatwouldn’t protect her head and that scared Cam, “Kay, I’m not going to leave youbehind.” Cameron told her, holding a duffle bag containing the murder weaponand the video tape proving that the deli man did it.

“That’s a smart play boy.” He said as Kay felt the coldmetal of the gun press against the back of her head, “I wouldn’t go anywherewith that bag unless you wanna see your girlfriend’s brains splatteredeverywhere.”

Cameron winced at that thought, “Well, you don’t have toworry about that.” He looked away for a moment trying to figure out what to do.Kay wasn’t his girlfriend but the deli guy seemed to think she was… he mightbe able to use that to his advantage.

“Cameron.” Kay said, “Cameron, look at me.” Cameron looked Kayin the eyes and noticed that her eyes were glazed over, almost as if she wastearing up, “It’s okay. I’ll be okay. Just go”

“Don’t do it son.” The perp said as he pressed the gunagainst Kay head, “You might leave scot-free but your lady here will end upleaving in a body bag.”

Kay’s eyes began to glisten, “Cameron, go. Don’t worry aboutme. The case is more important.” Kay knew that this wouldn’t end well but shewanted to make sure that if she was going to die, they would have at leastcaught the killer.

“Than your life?” Cameron asked raising an eyebrow, “I don’tthink so.” His eyes took a quick glance up before he placed the bag on the ground,“Okay, first, Mr Deli-Man, you’re going to hand over your gun.” He knelt on theground and placed a hand on the bag, “Then I will slide the bag over to you andthen you’re going to let my… girlfriendgo. She was just doing her job.”

“Yeah, wanting to throw me in jail.” He growled.

Cam’s eyes darkened, “Do we have a deal or not?”

“I give you the agent and I keep my gun.”

“Then we exchange at the same time”

“Deal. On my count son. One… two… three!”

He pushed Kay towards Cam as Cameron slide the duffle overto him. Kay quickly took out the gun from her holster and pointed it at theperp, “Drop the gun and the bag and put your hands in the air!” She also made aquick glance up.

“Feisty one aren’t you?” The shop man commented, “If youdon’t drop your gun. Then I’ll justshoot your boyfriend here. My aim might be shaky but I can still hit part ofthe target.”

Kay’s intense stare would have been enough to scare anyonebut the perp didn’t let up so she slowly brought her gun down, “Fine.” Shesmirked, “We just need to keep you from moving from your spot.”

“Wha-” Suddenly from above a metal net was dropped on theperp causing him to drop both the gun and the duffle. Kay quickly went aroundto him and cuffed him, taking him away.

Cameron looked up and saw his team smiling down at him froma high up window, “Did we get him?” Dina called.

“Yeah! You got him!” Cameron shouted back.

“Always good to have a back-up plan!” Jordan exclaimedhappily.

“Sure is!” Cameron then followed Kay as she lead the killerto over to her superiors. Cameron took a deep breath, “It really is…” Hewhispered.

Later at the archive, the gang were having their usualafter-party celebrating their victory. “So did the guy confess?” Gunter asked.

“Well, given that he had threatened one of our agents with agun and we had the gun and we got theduffle bag with the evidence, there was no need for a confession anymore.” Mikejoyfully said.

They all then split off into their little groups at whichpoint, Cam gently took hold of Kay’s wrist, “Kay… Can we talk?”

She smiled at him, although unsure given a look in his eyesshe hadn’t seen before, “Of course, when do we not?” She joked.

Cameron chuckled as they moved to slightly more secludedarea of the archive, “There’s something I need to ask you but I need toapologize for what I’m about to say ahead of time.”

Kay furrowed her eyebrows, “Alright, why?”

Cameron took a deep breath, “Have you lost your damn mind!?”

Kay raised an eyebrow letting out a confused laugh, “What?”

“You almost letyourself get killed tonight!”

“Cameron, I had no choice.”

“Of course you did! The man was holding a gun to your head!” He put his drink down on thetable, “But all you seemed to be worried was getting the evidence!”

“The man was a serial killer! That evidence was something weneeded!” She argued putting her drink down.

“And it was more important than your own life?” Cameronquarreled.

“I’m an agent Cam! This type of thinking is needed for myline of work!”

They were unaware that their friends were hearing theirescalating fight. “Should we uh… try to break this up?” Jordan asked.

“No, no. Let them get this out of their systems. It could begood for them” Dina said, “Come on gentlemen; let’s decide on a take-outplace.” She distracted the men so Cam and Kay could be a little more private.

“What you tried to make me do… it was just cruel!” Cameronrecanted

“What?!” She was getting more angry and confused, “How istelling you to leave with the evidence cruel?!”

“You tried to make me leave you to die!”Cameron finallyshouted causing Kay to recoil a bit. Once he had said those words, he calmeddown, “I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you…”

Kay was silent for a moment. She then gently placed a handon his arm, “Why do you care so much if something happens to me?”

Cameron took a step towards her, “I-I… I just do. I can’texplain it.”

Kay looked him in the eyes, “Can you try?” They both noticedjust how close their faces were.

Cameron hesitated, “I-I…” Their lips were mere inches awayfrom each other when Cam softly presses his lips against hers for a momentbefore pulling back, “I’m sorry Kay. I shouldn’t have…  it’s just that I almost lost you and this wasthe best way for me to explain-Kay?” Kay continued to look him in the eyesbefore smiling, “Kay are you-hmm!” Kay grabbed him by the shirt and smashedtheir lips together. Cameron felt the breath being knocked out of him but in agood way. It took only a second for him to realize what was happening and torespond by wrapping his arms around her as his hands pressed against the backof her cardigan. He held her close as her hands moved up and her palms pressedon his cheeked. Cameron adjusted his head, deepening the kiss as he furrowed hiseyebrows. They could both feel the other smile into the kiss, Kay felt hisdimples appear as he smiled. They then pulled back as they had run out of air,pressing their foreheads against each other. “Well… I think I’ve made mypoint.” Cameron chuckled.

“I think I have too.” Kay smiled as she wrapped her armsaround his neck, “So… you don’t see me as just another FBI agent then?”

Cameron’s eyes widened, “What?” He tightened his grip aroundher waist, “Why would you even think that?”

Kay gave a slight chuckle, “I-it’s not important.”

Cameron sensed she was lying but didn’t say anything because he didn’twant to push her… for now. He was about to say something when, “I’m sorry.”Dina called, “I hate to interrupt your snog session but we’re ordering pizza,are you both okay with pepperoni?” They both nodded, “Wonderful.”

As Dina walked away, they shared another kiss before theywalked over to their friends hand in hand, less worried about the future.

Hope you guys enjoyedthis one because if you didn’t… well, that would just make me very sad. I’msorry, before I started writing for Deception, the most descriptive way I wroteromance went more along the lines of, “And then they kissed.”! I’m not veryexperienced with relationships so most of… [Gestures to entire shelf ofDeception Fanfiction] all this… is wishful thinking. Oh man, I’m gonna be so disappointedwhen reality comes crashing down.

Oh wow, this gotkinda dark. Um… PUPPIES!

Okay, see you nexttime guys!